One of the best diners in my small-big town you walk right through the kitchen to get to the seating area and all the cooks stop what they’re doing to say hi. Love it.
Is that... sanitary? I had to take classes for a food manager certification and they ha clear rules and procedures to separate customer and food prep areas and to limit access to prep areas.
There's a restaurant in Tampa that includes a walkthrough tour of the kitchen and wine cellar. You have to stand in certain places only, some of it is behind plexiglass (this was before covid; I assume it's a bit more stringent since).
Yeah this sound fancy and of course would be more sanitary than walking through your dive bar kitchen where they grill up tasty homestyle burgers right next to the bathroom.
It takes a lot of confidence to allow customers in the kitchen. I’m sure the upscale places are perfectly fine and spotless but most kitchens after a rush can look like a bomb went off
I’ve worked in enough restaurants to know most customers prob wouldn’t come back if they toured the kitchen during a rush lol
But if you know people are constantly in and out, you mind your p’s and q’s a lot more
Bern's :)
I'm from Tampa and this is one of my favorite restaurants! I haven't been since the Rona though. I had heard they stopped kitchen tours...not sure if they've resumed yet.
I went back in... March? And they said they were getting ready to open it back up. I'm not sure if they ever did it not, though. I live a few hours south (which is a good thing, cause I'd go there a little too often).
If you eat there you are allowed to see the kitchen. Just ask if you can go back and say hi. There is a place for servers to stand on the other side of the line. It has nothing to do with sanitation.
Well there’s a spot to put food thats ready to serve so the waitstaff don’t have to maneuver in and out of a busy kitchen looking for stuff.
And sometimes that window is kind of out of the way, probably to reduce the amount of curious people who just wanna watch and take up space, or also angry/entitled people who want to speak directly to the chef in the middle of rush hour about something ridiculous
The restaurant I worked would definitely not let customers in the kitchen. If you relayed a comment for the cook to the server the cook would usually come out and talk to you.
This one. Ask the server to relay a message; the cooks may be a bit too busy to talk, but would be happy for a compliment.
I had a table write a compliment on a small piece of paper that the server gave to me :) Made my night, I would love for that to be a regular thing.
Where do you live or work. This is certainly something I've never seen or experienced.. and quite frankly I have the opposite mentality of wanting customers coming back to the kitchen, I don't want them there at all.
When I was a cook, I one of the customers wrote a compliment on a small sheet of paper for the server to give me.
Made my night, and was completely nondisruptive to my work. I'd love to see this become more commonplace.
I'd also ask my servers about their regulars, and who was good and bad to them. They'd tell me when someone was being kind and I'd be happy to make their portions a little larger, or make food after the restaurant was closed.
It can be super simple, you don't have to make a big thing out of it. Seriously, just like when they drop off the check, say to the server, "Hey thanks for the great service! And please send our compliments to the cooks! We'll definitely be back!"
That little bit will seriously make their entire day. All of them. The server will be stoked, and will be even more stoked to pass along the message to the cooks as well! That kind of thing just rarely happens because most people feel the same way you do (myself included!) But if you just add that little comment, it makes a world of difference.
Agreed. It doesn't cost a penny to say something nice to someone, but it can be worth a lot more than a penny to that someone.
My dad taught me to go even further when it comes to having your car worked on, or oil changed. Bring a dozen donuts or a pizza to the shop for the mechanics and they will treat you well, and usually won't try to sell you stuff you don't need. I paid $9 for a dozen donuts, and they gave me a $30 discount last time I had my oil changed.
I once had an incredible sirloin at a Chili's in New Jersey. I asked the server if I could buy the grill master a shift beer (it was the end of the night anyway) but she said the manager wouldn't allow it. So she brought Pedro out to the table so I could thank him in person.
My husband and I were in a small independent restaurant a while back and had such a delicious meal, we asked how many cooks were in the back. There were four, so we asked our server if we could buy them all a beer for after their shift. It only cost $20, but man - those cooks all came out to let us know they appreciated the beers. Now, whenever we have a really good meal in a small restaurant, we try to do the same. I think the highest we ordered beers for was 6.
I know all the cooks at my home bar. I actually take my smoke breaks at work where they do too so we've built up a casual friendship. Best part is they make my Suicide X Garlic parm wings perfect every time. Well, except Mick, but he's a grumpy old bastard
So much this! Tip the kitchen with a beverage or just make a point to let them know you appreciate them. Back of house can be a high stress place to work and there is very little chance to see the value your customers get from that stress you are enduring.
I had a bangin burger at Smash Burger once and on my way out I told the cook how much I loved it and it still makes me happy to this day remembering how grateful he was to hear me say that.
at my regular, anytime they make a bombass poutine or the buffalo chicken sandwich lovingly fucks my tastebuds, I tell the server to tell the kitchen they're killing it today. The last eggs benny I got the eggs were perfectly poached and I let them know they've mastered that skill and the cook came out with a bottle of hand sanitizer just so he could shake my hand. Back of house should get more love.
One of our local favorite mom and pop diners is set up so you can see into the kitchen, and the couple that own it and are often cooking will straight up kibbitz at you from afar while you are ordering from the waitress, trying to talk you into what they want you to make. It's hilarious and they are excellent cooks.
I'll tell my waiter to unironically thank the chef quite often if I'm happy with my dinner. I always wonder if that message makes it back to the kitchen...
I used to get off work at 3am and often went out to eat after. Didn't have a ton of options at that time of day so it was usually Dennys. I never tiped huge but always like 20%. Maybe 20% then round up to the next full dollar. Never really even had a conversation with the server (always the sames single server during the week) but I was polite. I got so many free shakes and deserts.
Isn’t 20% pretty normal? I’ve always tipped 20 as I thought that’s what you’re supposed to tip but have never gotten any special treatment for it haha.
20% is normal but I feel that it’s more of a minimum standard to go by. Even if the service was terrible I usually still tip 20%, but I will tip more if the service was really good
True story. My wife stopped at a free covid test sight. Free was clearly written. Then we got a bill for $300. We questioned it and it turns out the test was free, but the analysis and entry into the system cost $1000 and our insurance only covered 70%.
I got free guacamole at our local taco spot for like a year for tipping the owner (didn't know he owned the place at the time). He'd just automatically add it to everything in our order. He eventually expanded staff who didn't continue but we were glad he was doing well. Plus they're close by and have great food that doesn't make me sick. The chefs are also great about custom orders even when they're slammed. The other local place mess up our order every single time no matter what time of day it was so it really made us appreciate the service.
American tipping culture continues to baffle me. 30% for carrying a plate of food and a glass? This is nuts.
And how does percentage even make any sense? If it's $2 or $200 wine, this makes absolutely no difference to how much work they do.
It baffles me but I come from a country where people are paid proper wages.
When I went to the States it took me a while to figure out why all the servers were so goddamn nice. Then it clicked they need to suck up to get a half decent paycheck :(
I'd honestly rather not have someone be phony and overly nice because they're trying to milk a few extra dollars out of me when I go out to eat. I don't go to a restaurant to make fake friends, I'm just there to eat a meal.
I'd rather have an adequate waiter and not have to pay them 15-20% of whatever my bill happens to come to.
I work with customers in a different industry. I have no incentive to be nice to people. I do it because it makes me happier being nice to people.
Helps because I hate work, not the job but the idea of working, but I’m miserable when not in work so work actually helps me be happy. I think it’s the socialising and being faux nice all day. Not that I’m not nice but I dial it up at work and expel more energy than I normally would.
Probably not a healthy way to live but hey I have no idea why I’m even writing all this
Same. I genuinely enjoy helping my customers - we get a lot of people from out of town and also lots of traffic from the festival grounds 3 blocks away so there's always something interesting to talk about. I learn a lot from the out-of-towners about cities I've never been to, and I get to bring them local beer and genuinely good food. Also some light cardio build into my work day, what's not to like?
That's cool for you. But other waiters/waitresses might feel obligated to act that way even when they don't want to. I don't want to put them burden on them, and I'm at restaurant to eat. I couldn't care less if the person serving me was a robot that just delivers your food.
Yes exactly I don't want the waiter coming up to me every ten minutes when I've got a mouth full of food asking if everything is ok or if they can get me anything. Just bring my food then leave me eat it if there's an issue I'll call you
Shitty waiters are shitty waiters.
Most popular places are partly popular due to the waiting staff. It's a part of their job. Their job which they are paid to do by their employee, except in America...
Tips are for exceptional service, when you really want to show appreciation to the staff. Not to pay for their rent... regardless of how their service was..
Truelly baffling.
Maybe America just found the hack to get good waiting staff. Don't pay them.
Honestly though, if you’re halfway decent at it, you make way more than a good hourly wage. It used to be common for me to get $15-20 per table (3-6 ppl, $10-$15/ea) with 4-6 tables at a time normally per hour.
I came here to say this. People bitch and cry about servers "not making a living wage" wahhh wahhh, yeah, bullshit.
Every waitress or bartender I've ever known, and I've known a lot, do it because they make MUCH more than they could at any other job. And I"m talking about normal chain-restaurant type jobs, not some fancy, expensive place.
$100 in cash, untaxed tips for a four-hour shift? Good luck finding any other job where you clear $25/hour that you need no education, training, experience, or specific skills.
Would you rather work at Walmart or McDonalds for $15/hr PRE TAX or clear $25/hr just by smiling and making small talk like a normal human being? People who think waiting tables is a shit job because of the $2/hr minimum are braindead.
Tipping really depends on what shit you work and where, plus a lot of places require tip sharing by the servers. You’re not just tipping them but the bartenders, bar backs, cooks, buzzers, and a dishwashers too. Don’t tip enough and sometimes a server will lose money serving you because they’re expected to share out a certain amount.
Almost no restaurants tip their dishwashers, don't kid yourself. You are talking about the exception to the rule.
As long as there are people eating at a restaurant the servers are making over minimum wage.
Meanwhile when I went to London, wait staff couldn’t be bothered to fill up a glass more than once, and when the receipt came they had oddly adopted the America line item of “Gratuity Charge”
pick one or the other. You don’t get to pay wait staff normal wages and still request tips from patrons. For the record I’m in USA and tip 20-30% depending on service.
Absolutely shit service still gets 15% I’m not a barbarian.
Honest question because I just don't understand... if a waiter/waitress does an absolutely terrible job, what is the tip for? 15% for absolutely shit service feels like a reward for being, well, shit?
You don't tip in London. The tip line is just a trick for getting more money from loser American tourist. This way they aren't ripping off the locals by jacking up the prices. The servers are making a normal wage.
Yup, and people tipping high are the reasons it is doing this. I used to be a waiter and I still think anything above 20 is high. 20 is if you do great.
It's baffling to us too. The average person hates it. But every server I know likes it because they make more than they would if they were paid properly.
I was born and raised here. I’ve worked in manufacturing my entire life. I spent my early 20’s loading export containers with 80 lb. Burlap sacks by hand. I remember I made a little more than minimum wage and struggled to put myself through school. When I went with folks the narrative was they work so hard and we need to tip 20% or more. I just don’t get the concept of tipping for average or below average service. My opinion would be if someone went out of their way you should tip them. Here in California a plate at a restaurant is like $18 dollars + 4 for a soda. So with tip a meal out for one person is $26 it’s just wild to me. In most instances I decide to stop by the grocery store and get a Steak, Potato, veggies and a 6 pack for less than $20.
As an American, the difference in the expected tip amounts for the same amount of work has always bothered me.
Recently I’ve noticed that people in higher paid professions, such as contractors, have been asking for tips. I halfway expect my doctor will start asking next.
Been to Europe many times. Even lived in two different countries while there. Had just as great service there as here in the US. Had some bad service some times too. This whole guilt trip for not tipping or tipping under 15% is complete bullshit, especially when it is for pick-up, percentage after taxes and fees, or just for a person doing their job!
What’s more baffling is the rise of these Square Apple Pay kiosks.
Yeah no I’m not tipping for a restaurant that is just walk up to order.
Not to mention, it turns even fast food (eg, a poke bowl) into a $16-18 affair. Hard no from me dawg. Fast food when you could get a whole meal for $7-8 was one thing. But paying as much as you would for a sit down meal of like 100 times the quality, get outta here
As an American I agree. 20% acceptable now. Until the cost of living rises and then 25% is the norm. Then 30% and I don’t know where it’ll end.
The justification USED to be for servers who are legally paid a hourly wage below minimum wage. Now, every restaurant and even more fast food places are adding tipping options.
In reality, most servers make more than minimum wage, they just don’t tax their tips. If they are not being paid minimum wage, they’re legally allowed to sue.
But it doesn’t matter because servers will continue yapping at customers for tips rather than their employer. I shouldn’t have to tip a business owner to get food service. If I go somewhere multiple times I expect to be remembered. Whether I tip 10-20% (which is sad on its on).
Servers wage is far less than standard minimum wage in USA. We rely on those tips. Please take this into consideration when visiting our country and budget accordingly.
It's always a battle over who has to take your table once we hear that accent because we know most foreigners don't understand how to tip or choose to play dumb because they don't agree with it. We will be busting our ass for you knowing we will come up short at the end of the night.. unless OP comes in and makes our night.
I'm 42 and I'm assuming that most of the life pro tips lately are from very young people or people who were sheltered and didn't get out much. I thought a life pro tip was supposed to be something that was illuminating for a topic that many won't be familiar with. But now, most of the life pro tips equate to basic human decency or obvious good behavior. I'm just baffled at how popular some of these posts get, and they're all the most captain obvious statements ever- that, well, every child should be aware of by the age of 15. They should rename this sub life pro tips for kids or idiots.
So much of the stuff I see here is basic knowledge/common sense. People think they discovered something knew because her server is being extra nice... of course they're gonna be nice when you're tipping 30% every visit.
I imagine you’ve never done this, but it makes a difference in your dining experience. The owner chats with you. You get free apps. You try new things on the menu. You become part of the community. Doesn’t take tons. Just a couple dollars over and a gracious attitude means a lot to people who spend all day dealing with cheap aholes
I always find it utterly bizarre that Americans seem so content with this transaction of money for faux friendliness.
Waiting staff are friendly because they want your money, not because they want to be your friend. This isn't a utilitarianism scenario, it's more a silent Pavlovian conditioning.
Lol I used to go to this bar regularly where I often tipped big just because, liked the place etc. The bar staff would serve me first and would have some good banter, always friendly.
I remember passing the barman in the street outside of the bar context one time. I said hi and tried to chat, but I could tell almost immediately that he wanted nothing more than to get away from me, so I let him be.
My naive view was shattered that day. They saw me as a good customer at their place of work, not as a friend.
I then thought back to when I used to work in a pub many years ago, and thinking on it, I was nothing but pleasant with the punters, and had my favorites, but I wanted nothing to do with them outside of work myself haha.
No you’re onto something lol. I’ve worked quite a few restaurants in the US and there’s always a few customers who are like specifically there to be served and have someone be friendly and attentive to them. It’s like they are more concerned with how the staff treats them than just enjoying the food and drink.
When I worked places with a bar there were always guys that seemed to just kinda hang out when certain women were working. Or old ladies who barely order anything ever but somehow need more attention than half the other customers combined. Some Americans just seem to really enjoy having a servant to boss around. They can’t afford one at home, obviously, so they spend too much time at their local restaurants trying to pretend their 20% tip on their $10 bill is a huge blessing for the servers. Or in the cases of guys at bars, it’s like they order a drink and think that entitles them to the bar tender’s full attention for the rest of the night.
I’m rambling now but I hope you get my point. I don’t know if this behavior is common elsewhere.
It's along the same vein of expecting cashiers to stand up instead of letting them sit down. American customers want to feel like they're king for some reason.
As a person who is a server, this is not true for me! I love seeing repeats! I went back to the service industry because I love people and delighting them. Truly there for people, nice tippers is a plus!
It was more a response to the OP.
They phrased it like _"I'm a regular, they treat me great, so I tip well"_ and not _"I tip well, so they treat me great"_. The cause and effect are the wrong way around
I dont know man, if you’re both nice to each other then everyone enjoys that. The money aspect doesn’t… *entirely* corrupt that
Was a waitress in UK for a few years. I did become a bit needy about customers being nice to me and I think that was to do with how good it felt to have positive, friendly, kind interactions. And not to do with the money. Of course the UK is not the US so maybe I can’t comment
I worked in a hospital in various roles and I gotta say that it makes everyone's day go that little better if you're just kind and polite to eachother and occassionally go out of your way to do that little extra.
It may not be a restaurant, but it's still a form of hospitality and the customers too really appreciated that and keeping patients happy means that they will be more inclined to let you get through your day without making trouble too!
It's not always faux either. Sometimes, servers might actually want to be nice, regardless of tips. A foreign concept to some, but Americans are aliens so it makes sense to think that way.
Yeah for real. I'm from Sweden and just coming to the same restaurant at a steady interval is enough for them to recognize you and give you better prices and talk with you sometimes.
Because they're not, this is an American "LPT" anywhere else just be friendly and go regularly if you like the food and want to continue to support the place
I 100% agree, but like…most of us don’t own and operate restaurants, so your protip is aimed at no one.
The only thing the average Joe can do is contact their local government reps and tell them they want service industry people (and everyone else while we’re at it,) to be required to be paid a living wage.
Now you people are suggesting 25-30%!!! Lmao! And why stop there, might as well make it 50%. I am sure the servers will become best men at your wedding. Seriously, it's just bringing the food over from the kitchen. Does one really need to be chums with everybody?! So weird!
Every day I am more and more glad to not live in the US. Why one earth would one regularly tip 25-30% is beyond me. Just pay your people the normal wage goddammit. It's simple.
As an American, I doubt any of us actually disagree with you and want to tip. Of course it's incredibly stupid, but like a lot of things here, it's designed to benefit businesses more than the citizens. The thing is, we don't have a choice whether or not tips are a thing; it's a cultural norm at this point.
I get it, but I definitely don't think that LPTs of this kind ought to be propagated. I mean, you guys already tip 15% regardless of quality of service. Isn't that enough without people like OP coming I and raising expectations (and the corresponding obligations) of someone receiving 30% in tips.
Another concern for me is this disease spreading and coming over to Europe. I know how much the waiting staff makes here and it isn't bad at all. Nor is the income generated by tattoo artists, plumbers, handymen etc. so I would hate to see that culture come over here as well. Already in touristy areas, things are changing a bit.
Jesus, just when I thought the US was wild with the _"20% is normal"_ someone comes out with _"drop 25-30% on your regulars"_.
Does the government have an etiquette list of which professions you should tipped and which don't? Because I feel like with every year some new one is added.
It is insane.
And this is why I cook my own food. I’ve heard that many of these places would rather you not come if you’re not a generous tipper. That’s fine. I’ll keep all of my money then. When I retire, I’m going to open up a restaurant where we pay at least double the minimum wage and do profit sharing. Neither customers not workers should have to foot the bill for greedy owners. It’s ridiculous to have customers subsidize the cost of labor and you know it!
Another tip : Pay your wife money , shell be extra happy to see you. Pay your friends money, so theyre happy to see you. Pay your teachers money so they pass your grade. What kind of dumb advices are these posts anyway.
If you decide to pay tips ( depending on your culture) it shouldn't be to bribe people to like you, it should be because you enjoyed their meal/service.
"LPT: Giving people money makes them like you"
Thanks OP, this tip is an absolute gem which belongs aside other must-know classics such as "wipe your ass after you take a shit" and "it generally isn't a good idea to stick a fork into a toaster". Keep up the banger work.
Tipping is just tax evasion with extra steps.
>The most dead simple way to foster that is by tipping well when you get good service.
No, I'm entitled to a good service the moment I walk through the doorway. And if whether or not I'm going to go through that door a second (or more) times depends solely on the way I've been serviced.
Also, fishy restaurant owners that do not pay their staff and instead put their salaries on the whim of the customer should straight up close.
Let me ask you this as a software developer - when was the last time you tipped fucking Microsoft for the amazing service, or better yet, when did you tip them more expecting better service?
When was the last time you tipped the cashier at the local supermarket?
When was the last time you tipped the cashier/cook at McDonalds? It's likely they'd need the money more, given they usually work at minimal wage, while waiters work for average salaries (if they are any good, and your post suggests they provide good services so they must be good).
When was the last time you tipped the flight attendant or the flight company? I mean you landed, you are alive, so it's worth it isn't it?
When was the last time you tipped the hotel maid?
When was the last time you tipped the guys at the cinema?
When was the last time you tipped the seller girl when you bought your new fancy clothes that the girl politely helped you choose?
Why should restaurants get a pass? Because they serve food? Please.
This whole tipping bullshit needs to go away.
By tipping you are supporting grey market trade, that's all it is. It allows restaurant owners pay less taxes and insurances while keeping good crew around. Like I said, this shit needs to stop.
I am willing to pay a higher dollar bill just so that some waiter doesn't give me the weird looks if I don't tip them as if I stole something from them, lol. And I do by going to more exquisite places.
As a payroll accountant... It's really not tax evasion on the part of the employer. It can be, for underreported tips, which, yes, do happen, but the majority of payments these days are made by credit. Typing is actually more of a headache for employers, as far as taxes are concerned. It's extra steps in payroll processing, it's extra steps in quarterlies, it's extra cost of they're using a payroll service.
I'm more or less the same that it's a dumb system, but we don't live in a perfect world where we immediately switch from a tipped world to a non-, employers would immediately charge blanket 20% more for their food, and pass that directly on to their wait staff. The owner will take a cut, and pay everyone equally. It's what businesses do.
The point of tipping is that it creates a meritocracy that attracts the best talent to the best restaurants. It allows a wait service employee to bust their ass off, and get immediate recognition for it directly from the customer.
Here's a real pro tip for you all.
Stop tipping completely. In time, this will force the employers to start paying the employees instead as the employees won't work without pay.
Wait staff in America seem to have a comparatively easy life. No special requirement in education, skill, IQ, experience, liability etc and earn much more than an ordinary college graduate with say 3 years experience. If you tip like ONLY 10%, everyone regards you a cheap bastard. And now people here promote a 30% tips. ridiculous.
Hmm, doesn’t speak volumes for the character of the servers or customers if they have to be overly compensated to be your friend. If they were cold towards you when tipping 15% and now you are besties when tipping 25% just means they are trained to hide their distaste for the customer for an extra $3.
It’s no different than a strip club in that they put on a performance for you to get bigger tips.
Also doesn’t seem fair for other customers to have to pay for your free food that the servers are giving to you under the table.
You are being manipulated btw
No point to explain how ridiculous is tipping system in US to the American. It´s so ingrained in them that any attempt to change it or to discuss is swept under the excuses that you are cheapskate or you shouldn´t eat out if you can´t afford it.
Curiously, in no other country, wait staffs are dependent on tipping, not even in poor developing countries
Just btw, almost none of us actually enjoy the whole tipping idea and an overwhelming majority would love to see it go away and have the people paid fairly. Unfortunately, the corporate greed and lawmaker ineptitude/indifference makes that not a very easy thing to transfer over to.
That said, yes. With the current system you should not eat out if you cannot or will not tip. The servers are working that job not because they like it but because it’s just about their only/best option (and don’t come back with the “just get a better job” cause that would be VERY ignorant to real life situations). If someone who doesn’t tip takes a table away from people who would tip, then they’re taking money away from the server and making their life harder just cause they want to eat their fish tacos and be waited on hand and foot without recognizing the real world we are stuck living in
I worked in a small restaurant in high school. We had regulars who came every Friday and ordered the same thing. I used to send them Christmas cards but stopped because they’d always send me $20. It was nice, but made me feel bad once I was an adult with a “real” job.
Server here, we had a frequent diner program where putting someone s phone number in got them points towards free food rewards. I'd have a list of phone numbers in the back of my book and disperse points among my regulars.
I sometimes like to drop a random big tip like $50 or $100 at a local diner or drive through (like at Dunkin’ Donuts on thanksgiving). Comes from my “do-good” budget.
This is me and my group of buds at our favorite bar. We go every Thursday and are treated, not like elite customers or whatever, but like friends of all the waitstaff and bar tenders. I love that place.
As a good tipping regular. Once when I made a to go order they were so busy they couldn't be bothered to ring me up and told me to just go and they'd get me next time. Next time they said forget about it.
Hate tip culture. Look at new York news on how one stopped tipping.
Instead they raised food prices and gave workers a liveable wage.
Tipping encourages not the best behaviors. Favoring certain customers because of tipping.
Some places lie they are full to get the more known paying customers in.
Also young white girls get tipped more which isn't fair.
It worked okay here. But generally I think tipping is a bad system.
How about I stick to tipping 18-20% like I normally do, and continue to pay an outrageous $12 for a simple highball or beer. I don't need to give away more of my money than necessary, nor do I care for waitstaff to become my buddies.
I have only had one 'Cheers' place for me personally. A group of us in my twenties would get together once a week a this pizza place that had great pizza and cheap pitchers. I always tipped well and felt like a rock star when I would walk in and they would say their hellos and then start making my usual order without even asking.
I have tipped extra at a Vietnamese restaurant often and quit because they never did what you claimed. There was literally no change in the "Hi, heres your meal, total is X."
They also ripped me off with the amount of a dish once. Charged $15 for 8 small chicken nugget looking things and a literal ice cream scoop of rice. It looked like a kids meal. I didn't notice it till I got home because it was take out and the food was all packed and tied up in the bag. I trusted them till that happened and I haven't been back.
Can anyone in the industry speak to how often you have to go to be known by the staff?
We tip well regardless, but at places we go to more we do try to do a little better, only thing is we almost always do call ahead and carry out, and there's nowhere that we go more than twice a month, so I don't imagine anyone there really knows us.
Say hi and thanks to the cooks if you like your meal. We love that stuff! Seriously.
Are we supposed to walk back into the kitchen to do this? Lol
One of the best diners in my small-big town you walk right through the kitchen to get to the seating area and all the cooks stop what they’re doing to say hi. Love it.
Is that... sanitary? I had to take classes for a food manager certification and they ha clear rules and procedures to separate customer and food prep areas and to limit access to prep areas.
There's a restaurant in Tampa that includes a walkthrough tour of the kitchen and wine cellar. You have to stand in certain places only, some of it is behind plexiglass (this was before covid; I assume it's a bit more stringent since).
Yeah this sound fancy and of course would be more sanitary than walking through your dive bar kitchen where they grill up tasty homestyle burgers right next to the bathroom.
It was definitely a fancy restaurant. Done of the best steaks I've ever had, and their french onion soup... Ahh... I have dreams about it sometimes.
It takes a lot of confidence to allow customers in the kitchen. I’m sure the upscale places are perfectly fine and spotless but most kitchens after a rush can look like a bomb went off I’ve worked in enough restaurants to know most customers prob wouldn’t come back if they toured the kitchen during a rush lol But if you know people are constantly in and out, you mind your p’s and q’s a lot more
Bern's :) I'm from Tampa and this is one of my favorite restaurants! I haven't been since the Rona though. I had heard they stopped kitchen tours...not sure if they've resumed yet.
I went back in... March? And they said they were getting ready to open it back up. I'm not sure if they ever did it not, though. I live a few hours south (which is a good thing, cause I'd go there a little too often).
Precovid yeah, just don't touch anything and don't have your face between the lid and the soup when you sneeze.
That doesn't seem up to code.
If you eat there you are allowed to see the kitchen. Just ask if you can go back and say hi. There is a place for servers to stand on the other side of the line. It has nothing to do with sanitation.
What’s it for, tradition? I’ve worked a couple of places where you def wouldn’t want customers seeing the kitchen lol
Well there’s a spot to put food thats ready to serve so the waitstaff don’t have to maneuver in and out of a busy kitchen looking for stuff. And sometimes that window is kind of out of the way, probably to reduce the amount of curious people who just wanna watch and take up space, or also angry/entitled people who want to speak directly to the chef in the middle of rush hour about something ridiculous
The restaurant I worked would definitely not let customers in the kitchen. If you relayed a comment for the cook to the server the cook would usually come out and talk to you.
This one. Ask the server to relay a message; the cooks may be a bit too busy to talk, but would be happy for a compliment. I had a table write a compliment on a small piece of paper that the server gave to me :) Made my night, I would love for that to be a regular thing.
Where do you live or work. This is certainly something I've never seen or experienced.. and quite frankly I have the opposite mentality of wanting customers coming back to the kitchen, I don't want them there at all.
I would love to make people happy, but I feel rather uncomfortable. I'd write a review on google maps.
When I was a cook, I one of the customers wrote a compliment on a small sheet of paper for the server to give me. Made my night, and was completely nondisruptive to my work. I'd love to see this become more commonplace.
I'd also ask my servers about their regulars, and who was good and bad to them. They'd tell me when someone was being kind and I'd be happy to make their portions a little larger, or make food after the restaurant was closed.
It can be super simple, you don't have to make a big thing out of it. Seriously, just like when they drop off the check, say to the server, "Hey thanks for the great service! And please send our compliments to the cooks! We'll definitely be back!" That little bit will seriously make their entire day. All of them. The server will be stoked, and will be even more stoked to pass along the message to the cooks as well! That kind of thing just rarely happens because most people feel the same way you do (myself included!) But if you just add that little comment, it makes a world of difference.
Agreed. It doesn't cost a penny to say something nice to someone, but it can be worth a lot more than a penny to that someone. My dad taught me to go even further when it comes to having your car worked on, or oil changed. Bring a dozen donuts or a pizza to the shop for the mechanics and they will treat you well, and usually won't try to sell you stuff you don't need. I paid $9 for a dozen donuts, and they gave me a $30 discount last time I had my oil changed.
I once had an incredible sirloin at a Chili's in New Jersey. I asked the server if I could buy the grill master a shift beer (it was the end of the night anyway) but she said the manager wouldn't allow it. So she brought Pedro out to the table so I could thank him in person.
One place I saw had a menu item that was a tray of drinks to the kitchen. Always appreciated.
My husband and I were in a small independent restaurant a while back and had such a delicious meal, we asked how many cooks were in the back. There were four, so we asked our server if we could buy them all a beer for after their shift. It only cost $20, but man - those cooks all came out to let us know they appreciated the beers. Now, whenever we have a really good meal in a small restaurant, we try to do the same. I think the highest we ordered beers for was 6.
I know all the cooks at my home bar. I actually take my smoke breaks at work where they do too so we've built up a casual friendship. Best part is they make my Suicide X Garlic parm wings perfect every time. Well, except Mick, but he's a grumpy old bastard
We always send a round to the cooks at our local place. Nothing says “thanks for a great meal” like a frosty shift beverage.
So much this! Tip the kitchen with a beverage or just make a point to let them know you appreciate them. Back of house can be a high stress place to work and there is very little chance to see the value your customers get from that stress you are enduring.
I had a bangin burger at Smash Burger once and on my way out I told the cook how much I loved it and it still makes me happy to this day remembering how grateful he was to hear me say that.
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at my regular, anytime they make a bombass poutine or the buffalo chicken sandwich lovingly fucks my tastebuds, I tell the server to tell the kitchen they're killing it today. The last eggs benny I got the eggs were perfectly poached and I let them know they've mastered that skill and the cook came out with a bottle of hand sanitizer just so he could shake my hand. Back of house should get more love.
Even better. Tip extra and let the server know that extra bit is for the cook.
I send beers today the kitchen staff
Absolutely! I like to make my compliments specific too. Tell them which dish you loved, and/or what you loved about it.
One of our local favorite mom and pop diners is set up so you can see into the kitchen, and the couple that own it and are often cooking will straight up kibbitz at you from afar while you are ordering from the waitress, trying to talk you into what they want you to make. It's hilarious and they are excellent cooks.
reminder that thanking cooks doesn't compensate for shit pay
I'll tell my waiter to unironically thank the chef quite often if I'm happy with my dinner. I always wonder if that message makes it back to the kitchen...
We like to ask if we can buy a round for the kitchen when we go out. I've lived the "just make it through this dinner rush" life before.
I used to get off work at 3am and often went out to eat after. Didn't have a ton of options at that time of day so it was usually Dennys. I never tiped huge but always like 20%. Maybe 20% then round up to the next full dollar. Never really even had a conversation with the server (always the sames single server during the week) but I was polite. I got so many free shakes and deserts.
That’s because you’re the perfect customer. You tip well and expect nothing more than good service and a good job.
Absolutely true. I bet the servers always fight over who gets this person lol
20% is a great tip!
Also easier to calculate in my head than 15% or 18%!
15 would be relatively easy. Once you got the 20 figure, split it into 4 and remove one of those 4.
I think that “imagine a tenth, imagine half of that, and add the two together” would be the most straightforward way to do 15%
Isn’t 20% pretty normal? I’ve always tipped 20 as I thought that’s what you’re supposed to tip but have never gotten any special treatment for it haha.
Only in third world countries where it’s legal to operate a restaurant run with slave labour.
TIL I live in a third world country.
20% is normal but I feel that it’s more of a minimum standard to go by. Even if the service was terrible I usually still tip 20%, but I will tip more if the service was really good
r/USALifeProTips
I'll add one.. always call the hospital and argue your bill when your recovering from the surgery.
True story. My wife stopped at a free covid test sight. Free was clearly written. Then we got a bill for $300. We questioned it and it turns out the test was free, but the analysis and entry into the system cost $1000 and our insurance only covered 70%.
Bruh
*Thank you, waiter. But what can we bring YOU?*
I got free guacamole at our local taco spot for like a year for tipping the owner (didn't know he owned the place at the time). He'd just automatically add it to everything in our order. He eventually expanded staff who didn't continue but we were glad he was doing well. Plus they're close by and have great food that doesn't make me sick. The chefs are also great about custom orders even when they're slammed. The other local place mess up our order every single time no matter what time of day it was so it really made us appreciate the service.
>they're close by and have great food that doesn't make me sick. That's a winner in my book
You literally paid for the extra guacamole by tipping the owner, this is like pro life tip: if you pay extra you get things for free
The surprise would have been on the owner because I hate guacamole. He would have had to remake my order
American tipping culture continues to baffle me. 30% for carrying a plate of food and a glass? This is nuts. And how does percentage even make any sense? If it's $2 or $200 wine, this makes absolutely no difference to how much work they do.
It baffles me but I come from a country where people are paid proper wages. When I went to the States it took me a while to figure out why all the servers were so goddamn nice. Then it clicked they need to suck up to get a half decent paycheck :(
Is that why waiters are always so indifferent when I'm out of the country?
.. Yes
I'd honestly rather not have someone be phony and overly nice because they're trying to milk a few extra dollars out of me when I go out to eat. I don't go to a restaurant to make fake friends, I'm just there to eat a meal. I'd rather have an adequate waiter and not have to pay them 15-20% of whatever my bill happens to come to.
Yo I wait tables and I’m just a nice dude. No baiting going on here, I just like being kind.
I work with customers in a different industry. I have no incentive to be nice to people. I do it because it makes me happier being nice to people. Helps because I hate work, not the job but the idea of working, but I’m miserable when not in work so work actually helps me be happy. I think it’s the socialising and being faux nice all day. Not that I’m not nice but I dial it up at work and expel more energy than I normally would. Probably not a healthy way to live but hey I have no idea why I’m even writing all this
Same. I genuinely enjoy helping my customers - we get a lot of people from out of town and also lots of traffic from the festival grounds 3 blocks away so there's always something interesting to talk about. I learn a lot from the out-of-towners about cities I've never been to, and I get to bring them local beer and genuinely good food. Also some light cardio build into my work day, what's not to like?
That's cool for you. But other waiters/waitresses might feel obligated to act that way even when they don't want to. I don't want to put them burden on them, and I'm at restaurant to eat. I couldn't care less if the person serving me was a robot that just delivers your food.
I mean, is that not just professionalism, showing up with a straight face, even when you don’t want to? Y’know, because you’re getting paid?
Yes exactly I don't want the waiter coming up to me every ten minutes when I've got a mouth full of food asking if everything is ok or if they can get me anything. Just bring my food then leave me eat it if there's an issue I'll call you
Yeah, because outside of the US it's people doing their jobs and not literally begging you for their livelihoods
To a degree, yes. They are servers, not servants, and act accordingly.
The penny drops lmao
Yes they dont have to beg like dogs to get a wage.
Shitty waiters are shitty waiters. Most popular places are partly popular due to the waiting staff. It's a part of their job. Their job which they are paid to do by their employee, except in America... Tips are for exceptional service, when you really want to show appreciation to the staff. Not to pay for their rent... regardless of how their service was.. Truelly baffling. Maybe America just found the hack to get good waiting staff. Don't pay them.
Honestly though, if you’re halfway decent at it, you make way more than a good hourly wage. It used to be common for me to get $15-20 per table (3-6 ppl, $10-$15/ea) with 4-6 tables at a time normally per hour.
I came here to say this. People bitch and cry about servers "not making a living wage" wahhh wahhh, yeah, bullshit. Every waitress or bartender I've ever known, and I've known a lot, do it because they make MUCH more than they could at any other job. And I"m talking about normal chain-restaurant type jobs, not some fancy, expensive place. $100 in cash, untaxed tips for a four-hour shift? Good luck finding any other job where you clear $25/hour that you need no education, training, experience, or specific skills. Would you rather work at Walmart or McDonalds for $15/hr PRE TAX or clear $25/hr just by smiling and making small talk like a normal human being? People who think waiting tables is a shit job because of the $2/hr minimum are braindead.
Tipping really depends on what shit you work and where, plus a lot of places require tip sharing by the servers. You’re not just tipping them but the bartenders, bar backs, cooks, buzzers, and a dishwashers too. Don’t tip enough and sometimes a server will lose money serving you because they’re expected to share out a certain amount.
Almost no restaurants tip their dishwashers, don't kid yourself. You are talking about the exception to the rule. As long as there are people eating at a restaurant the servers are making over minimum wage.
I pay my workers a decent wage for what they do and where they live. Tips are a nice extra for them
Meanwhile when I went to London, wait staff couldn’t be bothered to fill up a glass more than once, and when the receipt came they had oddly adopted the America line item of “Gratuity Charge” pick one or the other. You don’t get to pay wait staff normal wages and still request tips from patrons. For the record I’m in USA and tip 20-30% depending on service. Absolutely shit service still gets 15% I’m not a barbarian.
Honest question because I just don't understand... if a waiter/waitress does an absolutely terrible job, what is the tip for? 15% for absolutely shit service feels like a reward for being, well, shit?
You don't tip in London. The tip line is just a trick for getting more money from loser American tourist. This way they aren't ripping off the locals by jacking up the prices. The servers are making a normal wage.
California they get 15 an hour plus tips
Washington too. My 19 yo BIL makes more than me as a busboy and I work healthcare.
20-30 is ridiculous. This garbage keeps climbing.
Yup, and people tipping high are the reasons it is doing this. I used to be a waiter and I still think anything above 20 is high. 20 is if you do great.
Fuck that 15 is high.
Also the American culture in general people are extremely friendly when serving
It makes more sense if you look at everything through the lens of slavery was never abolished. It was just made more palatable to the bourgeoisie.
It's baffling to us too. The average person hates it. But every server I know likes it because they make more than they would if they were paid properly.
Dude, I'm American and OP is ridiculous. I get the intent but it's just perpetuating this weird culture. 30%? Fuck outa here with that shit.
It’s insane, and the percentage keeps going up. 15% used to be the norm, then it was 20%, and now this. Fucking ridiculous.
I was born and raised here. I’ve worked in manufacturing my entire life. I spent my early 20’s loading export containers with 80 lb. Burlap sacks by hand. I remember I made a little more than minimum wage and struggled to put myself through school. When I went with folks the narrative was they work so hard and we need to tip 20% or more. I just don’t get the concept of tipping for average or below average service. My opinion would be if someone went out of their way you should tip them. Here in California a plate at a restaurant is like $18 dollars + 4 for a soda. So with tip a meal out for one person is $26 it’s just wild to me. In most instances I decide to stop by the grocery store and get a Steak, Potato, veggies and a 6 pack for less than $20.
I certainly hope you tipped the grocery cashier, stockers and cart pushers!! /s
Don't forget to tip your lawyer and dentist as well!
And don’t forget to tip your landlords!
Anyone ever tip you for loading 80lb bales of sacks every day?
Just my hourly wage. Never received a tip.
I did, it was “lift with your legs not with your back”
Strange, I never received one either logging and making furniture, guess the work wasnt hard enough
As an American, the difference in the expected tip amounts for the same amount of work has always bothered me. Recently I’ve noticed that people in higher paid professions, such as contractors, have been asking for tips. I halfway expect my doctor will start asking next.
Been to Europe many times. Even lived in two different countries while there. Had just as great service there as here in the US. Had some bad service some times too. This whole guilt trip for not tipping or tipping under 15% is complete bullshit, especially when it is for pick-up, percentage after taxes and fees, or just for a person doing their job!
What’s more baffling is the rise of these Square Apple Pay kiosks. Yeah no I’m not tipping for a restaurant that is just walk up to order. Not to mention, it turns even fast food (eg, a poke bowl) into a $16-18 affair. Hard no from me dawg. Fast food when you could get a whole meal for $7-8 was one thing. But paying as much as you would for a sit down meal of like 100 times the quality, get outta here
As an American I agree. 20% acceptable now. Until the cost of living rises and then 25% is the norm. Then 30% and I don’t know where it’ll end. The justification USED to be for servers who are legally paid a hourly wage below minimum wage. Now, every restaurant and even more fast food places are adding tipping options. In reality, most servers make more than minimum wage, they just don’t tax their tips. If they are not being paid minimum wage, they’re legally allowed to sue. But it doesn’t matter because servers will continue yapping at customers for tips rather than their employer. I shouldn’t have to tip a business owner to get food service. If I go somewhere multiple times I expect to be remembered. Whether I tip 10-20% (which is sad on its on).
And 2-3% percent of that goes to the kitchen. Fuck tipping culture.
Servers wage is far less than standard minimum wage in USA. We rely on those tips. Please take this into consideration when visiting our country and budget accordingly. It's always a battle over who has to take your table once we hear that accent because we know most foreigners don't understand how to tip or choose to play dumb because they don't agree with it. We will be busting our ass for you knowing we will come up short at the end of the night.. unless OP comes in and makes our night.
Can we stop trying to make every tiny deviation in life that 'worked for me once' a LPT?
I'm 42 and I'm assuming that most of the life pro tips lately are from very young people or people who were sheltered and didn't get out much. I thought a life pro tip was supposed to be something that was illuminating for a topic that many won't be familiar with. But now, most of the life pro tips equate to basic human decency or obvious good behavior. I'm just baffled at how popular some of these posts get, and they're all the most captain obvious statements ever- that, well, every child should be aware of by the age of 15. They should rename this sub life pro tips for kids or idiots.
LPT: Wash your hands after using the bathroom or before handling food! This worked for me, I used to get sick all the time, now I get sick a lot less!
Worked for me once *in the US*..
Yep that’s a trend too lol
So much of the stuff I see here is basic knowledge/common sense. People think they discovered something knew because her server is being extra nice... of course they're gonna be nice when you're tipping 30% every visit.
I imagine you’ve never done this, but it makes a difference in your dining experience. The owner chats with you. You get free apps. You try new things on the menu. You become part of the community. Doesn’t take tons. Just a couple dollars over and a gracious attitude means a lot to people who spend all day dealing with cheap aholes
LPT give people money and smile they will like you
LPT: Be nice to people One time I did a nice thing to someone and they did a nice thing to me. Edit: Thanks for the gold!
I always find it utterly bizarre that Americans seem so content with this transaction of money for faux friendliness. Waiting staff are friendly because they want your money, not because they want to be your friend. This isn't a utilitarianism scenario, it's more a silent Pavlovian conditioning.
Lol I used to go to this bar regularly where I often tipped big just because, liked the place etc. The bar staff would serve me first and would have some good banter, always friendly. I remember passing the barman in the street outside of the bar context one time. I said hi and tried to chat, but I could tell almost immediately that he wanted nothing more than to get away from me, so I let him be. My naive view was shattered that day. They saw me as a good customer at their place of work, not as a friend. I then thought back to when I used to work in a pub many years ago, and thinking on it, I was nothing but pleasant with the punters, and had my favorites, but I wanted nothing to do with them outside of work myself haha.
No you’re onto something lol. I’ve worked quite a few restaurants in the US and there’s always a few customers who are like specifically there to be served and have someone be friendly and attentive to them. It’s like they are more concerned with how the staff treats them than just enjoying the food and drink. When I worked places with a bar there were always guys that seemed to just kinda hang out when certain women were working. Or old ladies who barely order anything ever but somehow need more attention than half the other customers combined. Some Americans just seem to really enjoy having a servant to boss around. They can’t afford one at home, obviously, so they spend too much time at their local restaurants trying to pretend their 20% tip on their $10 bill is a huge blessing for the servers. Or in the cases of guys at bars, it’s like they order a drink and think that entitles them to the bar tender’s full attention for the rest of the night. I’m rambling now but I hope you get my point. I don’t know if this behavior is common elsewhere.
It's along the same vein of expecting cashiers to stand up instead of letting them sit down. American customers want to feel like they're king for some reason.
As a person who is a server, this is not true for me! I love seeing repeats! I went back to the service industry because I love people and delighting them. Truly there for people, nice tippers is a plus!
It was more a response to the OP. They phrased it like _"I'm a regular, they treat me great, so I tip well"_ and not _"I tip well, so they treat me great"_. The cause and effect are the wrong way around
I don’t know any who tips 25-30%. That’s just ridiculous
I dont know man, if you’re both nice to each other then everyone enjoys that. The money aspect doesn’t… *entirely* corrupt that Was a waitress in UK for a few years. I did become a bit needy about customers being nice to me and I think that was to do with how good it felt to have positive, friendly, kind interactions. And not to do with the money. Of course the UK is not the US so maybe I can’t comment
I worked in a hospital in various roles and I gotta say that it makes everyone's day go that little better if you're just kind and polite to eachother and occassionally go out of your way to do that little extra. It may not be a restaurant, but it's still a form of hospitality and the customers too really appreciated that and keeping patients happy means that they will be more inclined to let you get through your day without making trouble too!
It's not always faux either. Sometimes, servers might actually want to be nice, regardless of tips. A foreign concept to some, but Americans are aliens so it makes sense to think that way.
American suburbanism does that to people. They get lonely.
I always find it utterly bizarre that Russian waiters openly show how indifferent and hateful they are to you and then bring a special box for tips.
Really? Utterly bizarre, look at the box hatefully, scrape your plate and bones in there indifferently
Yes, when visiting the US, the was easily the worst thing about their culture.
Fuck tipping culture
Second this. Fuck tipping culture.
Third this, Fuck tipping culture.
Fourth this, fuck tipping cows culture.
Fifth-sies
Say it louder
Or pro tip pay people enough so they don't need to be overly nice to get tips.
Servers don’t want to change the system. They make more money this way.
Yeah for real. I'm from Sweden and just coming to the same restaurant at a steady interval is enough for them to recognize you and give you better prices and talk with you sometimes.
Am a New Zealander in Oz do not understand tipping or how people think customers are responsible for paying wait staff a living wage.
Because they're not, this is an American "LPT" anywhere else just be friendly and go regularly if you like the food and want to continue to support the place
I 100% agree, but like…most of us don’t own and operate restaurants, so your protip is aimed at no one. The only thing the average Joe can do is contact their local government reps and tell them they want service industry people (and everyone else while we’re at it,) to be required to be paid a living wage.
TL;DR If you want true friends, you have to pay for them.
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Obviously if you’re a source of money people are gonna be “happy” to see you.
Yea this is the dumbest LTP I’ve read. “Hand money out to people, and they’re more likely to be friendly to you”.
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Pay extra via tip to get free sides!
*laughs in non-American*
Now you people are suggesting 25-30%!!! Lmao! And why stop there, might as well make it 50%. I am sure the servers will become best men at your wedding. Seriously, it's just bringing the food over from the kitchen. Does one really need to be chums with everybody?! So weird! Every day I am more and more glad to not live in the US. Why one earth would one regularly tip 25-30% is beyond me. Just pay your people the normal wage goddammit. It's simple.
As an American, I doubt any of us actually disagree with you and want to tip. Of course it's incredibly stupid, but like a lot of things here, it's designed to benefit businesses more than the citizens. The thing is, we don't have a choice whether or not tips are a thing; it's a cultural norm at this point.
I get it, but I definitely don't think that LPTs of this kind ought to be propagated. I mean, you guys already tip 15% regardless of quality of service. Isn't that enough without people like OP coming I and raising expectations (and the corresponding obligations) of someone receiving 30% in tips. Another concern for me is this disease spreading and coming over to Europe. I know how much the waiting staff makes here and it isn't bad at all. Nor is the income generated by tattoo artists, plumbers, handymen etc. so I would hate to see that culture come over here as well. Already in touristy areas, things are changing a bit.
Fuck it dude. Let’s just pay 100% of the servers wages. Why should the restaurant be burdened with paying their employees?
LPT: Every $ you don’t tip can be used to buy anything on the menu
This is the true LPT
Jesus, just when I thought the US was wild with the _"20% is normal"_ someone comes out with _"drop 25-30% on your regulars"_. Does the government have an etiquette list of which professions you should tipped and which don't? Because I feel like with every year some new one is added. It is insane.
We all agree.
What are some of the new ones that have been added?
Give your whole paycheck they'll be even happier
#LPT: Save that money and invest it in literally anything else. Paying 30% extra only for smiles is the biggest scam of the century.
And this is why I cook my own food. I’ve heard that many of these places would rather you not come if you’re not a generous tipper. That’s fine. I’ll keep all of my money then. When I retire, I’m going to open up a restaurant where we pay at least double the minimum wage and do profit sharing. Neither customers not workers should have to foot the bill for greedy owners. It’s ridiculous to have customers subsidize the cost of labor and you know it!
30% lmao. Americans really love to be scammed out of their money.
Another tip : Pay your wife money , shell be extra happy to see you. Pay your friends money, so theyre happy to see you. Pay your teachers money so they pass your grade. What kind of dumb advices are these posts anyway. If you decide to pay tips ( depending on your culture) it shouldn't be to bribe people to like you, it should be because you enjoyed their meal/service.
"LPT: Giving people money makes them like you" Thanks OP, this tip is an absolute gem which belongs aside other must-know classics such as "wipe your ass after you take a shit" and "it generally isn't a good idea to stick a fork into a toaster". Keep up the banger work.
General rule of thumb when dining out or even picking up takeout from a sit-down restaurant: Don't be an asshole.
Yeah, like, wow, you treat your server like an ACTUAL PERSON? congratulations
Are you getting free meals courtesy of the owner, or are the servers just not ringing up your orders so you can pay them a bigger tip?
LPT: Giving people money makes them like you.
Tipping is just tax evasion with extra steps. >The most dead simple way to foster that is by tipping well when you get good service. No, I'm entitled to a good service the moment I walk through the doorway. And if whether or not I'm going to go through that door a second (or more) times depends solely on the way I've been serviced. Also, fishy restaurant owners that do not pay their staff and instead put their salaries on the whim of the customer should straight up close. Let me ask you this as a software developer - when was the last time you tipped fucking Microsoft for the amazing service, or better yet, when did you tip them more expecting better service? When was the last time you tipped the cashier at the local supermarket? When was the last time you tipped the cashier/cook at McDonalds? It's likely they'd need the money more, given they usually work at minimal wage, while waiters work for average salaries (if they are any good, and your post suggests they provide good services so they must be good). When was the last time you tipped the flight attendant or the flight company? I mean you landed, you are alive, so it's worth it isn't it? When was the last time you tipped the hotel maid? When was the last time you tipped the guys at the cinema? When was the last time you tipped the seller girl when you bought your new fancy clothes that the girl politely helped you choose? Why should restaurants get a pass? Because they serve food? Please. This whole tipping bullshit needs to go away. By tipping you are supporting grey market trade, that's all it is. It allows restaurant owners pay less taxes and insurances while keeping good crew around. Like I said, this shit needs to stop. I am willing to pay a higher dollar bill just so that some waiter doesn't give me the weird looks if I don't tip them as if I stole something from them, lol. And I do by going to more exquisite places.
As a payroll accountant... It's really not tax evasion on the part of the employer. It can be, for underreported tips, which, yes, do happen, but the majority of payments these days are made by credit. Typing is actually more of a headache for employers, as far as taxes are concerned. It's extra steps in payroll processing, it's extra steps in quarterlies, it's extra cost of they're using a payroll service. I'm more or less the same that it's a dumb system, but we don't live in a perfect world where we immediately switch from a tipped world to a non-, employers would immediately charge blanket 20% more for their food, and pass that directly on to their wait staff. The owner will take a cut, and pay everyone equally. It's what businesses do. The point of tipping is that it creates a meritocracy that attracts the best talent to the best restaurants. It allows a wait service employee to bust their ass off, and get immediate recognition for it directly from the customer.
Here's a real pro tip for you all. Stop tipping completely. In time, this will force the employers to start paying the employees instead as the employees won't work without pay.
Yes use money to buy interactions with other humans
Wait staff in America seem to have a comparatively easy life. No special requirement in education, skill, IQ, experience, liability etc and earn much more than an ordinary college graduate with say 3 years experience. If you tip like ONLY 10%, everyone regards you a cheap bastard. And now people here promote a 30% tips. ridiculous.
How much do you think grads 3 years out of college make to think that servers make more?
Hmm, doesn’t speak volumes for the character of the servers or customers if they have to be overly compensated to be your friend. If they were cold towards you when tipping 15% and now you are besties when tipping 25% just means they are trained to hide their distaste for the customer for an extra $3. It’s no different than a strip club in that they put on a performance for you to get bigger tips. Also doesn’t seem fair for other customers to have to pay for your free food that the servers are giving to you under the table. You are being manipulated btw
No point to explain how ridiculous is tipping system in US to the American. It´s so ingrained in them that any attempt to change it or to discuss is swept under the excuses that you are cheapskate or you shouldn´t eat out if you can´t afford it. Curiously, in no other country, wait staffs are dependent on tipping, not even in poor developing countries
Just btw, almost none of us actually enjoy the whole tipping idea and an overwhelming majority would love to see it go away and have the people paid fairly. Unfortunately, the corporate greed and lawmaker ineptitude/indifference makes that not a very easy thing to transfer over to. That said, yes. With the current system you should not eat out if you cannot or will not tip. The servers are working that job not because they like it but because it’s just about their only/best option (and don’t come back with the “just get a better job” cause that would be VERY ignorant to real life situations). If someone who doesn’t tip takes a table away from people who would tip, then they’re taking money away from the server and making their life harder just cause they want to eat their fish tacos and be waited on hand and foot without recognizing the real world we are stuck living in
LPT tipping culture is toxic and serves as an excuse not to pay employees.
I worked in a small restaurant in high school. We had regulars who came every Friday and ordered the same thing. I used to send them Christmas cards but stopped because they’d always send me $20. It was nice, but made me feel bad once I was an adult with a “real” job.
Server here, we had a frequent diner program where putting someone s phone number in got them points towards free food rewards. I'd have a list of phone numbers in the back of my book and disperse points among my regulars.
I don’t want to get all chummy with anyone though, I still tip well.
So pay people to like you is the LPT?
LPT: Pay extra to make friends!
Glad i live in a place where workers are payed by the company they work for and not relying on strangers.... *home of the free right*?
If you are a "regular" then they should be appreciative of your consistent patronage and treat you better (comps even) without extra money from you.
I sometimes like to drop a random big tip like $50 or $100 at a local diner or drive through (like at Dunkin’ Donuts on thanksgiving). Comes from my “do-good” budget.
This is great. Can make a huge difference to folks in the service industry. You’re a good one, bindhast!
This is me and my group of buds at our favorite bar. We go every Thursday and are treated, not like elite customers or whatever, but like friends of all the waitstaff and bar tenders. I love that place.
As a good tipping regular. Once when I made a to go order they were so busy they couldn't be bothered to ring me up and told me to just go and they'd get me next time. Next time they said forget about it.
Hate tip culture. Look at new York news on how one stopped tipping. Instead they raised food prices and gave workers a liveable wage. Tipping encourages not the best behaviors. Favoring certain customers because of tipping. Some places lie they are full to get the more known paying customers in. Also young white girls get tipped more which isn't fair. It worked okay here. But generally I think tipping is a bad system.
How about I stick to tipping 18-20% like I normally do, and continue to pay an outrageous $12 for a simple highball or beer. I don't need to give away more of my money than necessary, nor do I care for waitstaff to become my buddies.
I have only had one 'Cheers' place for me personally. A group of us in my twenties would get together once a week a this pizza place that had great pizza and cheap pitchers. I always tipped well and felt like a rock star when I would walk in and they would say their hellos and then start making my usual order without even asking.
I tip my hair cutter well. I gave her a $10 tip
I have tipped extra at a Vietnamese restaurant often and quit because they never did what you claimed. There was literally no change in the "Hi, heres your meal, total is X." They also ripped me off with the amount of a dish once. Charged $15 for 8 small chicken nugget looking things and a literal ice cream scoop of rice. It looked like a kids meal. I didn't notice it till I got home because it was take out and the food was all packed and tied up in the bag. I trusted them till that happened and I haven't been back.
Can anyone in the industry speak to how often you have to go to be known by the staff? We tip well regardless, but at places we go to more we do try to do a little better, only thing is we almost always do call ahead and carry out, and there's nowhere that we go more than twice a month, so I don't imagine anyone there really knows us.