Dear BA Foodist, Can you set me straight on tipping?

Andrew Knowlton's comments to questions are hugely entertaining...they are the first thing I look at when opening the magazine

B. Waechter

I'm a big believer that you earn your tips. I realize that waitstaff and bartenders don't make a lot of money, but you know, it really isn't my problem. If you act like an ass to me, then I'm gonna treat you like one and if you act nice to me, well then I'm gonna treat you nice. And, if you're worse then an ass, on the tip line, I've been known to write "Pay attention and be nice to customers."

In regards to rule #5, Sorry, this probrably makes no difference to anyone but Dean Martin was never a drinker. It was all put on for show, the man never drank a drop of booze his entire life!!

seriously tipping is not mandatory and people should realize this when going out... its not your fault the restaurant is paying them minimum wages- what they think tips should be... and if people don't like that... then don't wait tables.. there are lots of other jobs out there.. but to tell people if they are going to give less than 18-20 percent maybe they shouldn't go out is bunk.. this article is trash

15% for bad???? Why would you tip that high for bad service??

I have NO problem with leaving a good tip! However, that door swings both way! Years agao a tip was a reward for GOOD service, but now it has becom expected regardless of the service provided???? Waitiers/waitresses need to remember what a tip is for!

If I need to tip 18-20% percent then maybe the restaurants don't need my business. If the wait staff is average to good there is no need to tip more that 15%. If they suck I'll leave two cents so they know they haven't been stiff and I will not visit the restaurant again. And as for rule five you elites pig, maybe you should vote for obama to redistribute the wealth. Don't believe all this tripe, tipping is optional.

whats wrong with doubling the tip?

This article is a load of crap. 20% just because they brought me a meal? Are you kidding me. I work in the service business but am not in the kind that "tips" are appropriate. If I don't get a tip to do my job then why the hell would I give these people a tip. I'll give them a tip...go to school and get a better job. Nobody put a gun to there head to be a waiter. If the wage isn't enough to live on then complain, but that's not my problem.

No one should tip. The price a restaurant states includes the service. This whole culture of tipping is a lousy one. It makes many very uncomfortable and others use it to show off yet many do not want to tip but they feel they have to tip. Just have the restaurant pay the waiter a fair salary so everyone can eat without thinking if the service was one star or four star and how much each should pitch in for the tip.

God only requires a 10% tithe and look what He does for us. Why should I tip a server more?

Rule #6: If you go to a restaurant (usually breakfast spots) with infants/toddlers who throw their food/napkins/other stuff all over the place, don't forget a few extra bucks for the "cleanup tax".

Well, it must be nice for the rest of you, but here in DC we pay 10% tax on prepared foods. So doubling the tax is the rule of thumb, not a stingy cop-out.

I tip normal, but I would like to see the U.S. adopt the European system. Right now I am paying a higher percentage of the waitperson's salary than the cheap SOBs here. Put it on the bill. Why is always that cheap people want their money now and in cash but don't think they should pay their fair share.

I also don't like cheap restaurants that don't pay their staff well, so they're always understaffed so the poor waitperson that I am tipping is doing the work of two people poorly and then I have to tip for less-than-adequate service.

Keep in mind that the real hard work is done by the chef who sweats near the 300 degree grill, in my opinion half of the tip should go to the chef. Shouldn’t that be a part of fine dining culture? I agree with most people here. Always tip what you can afford and not to show how much nice you are. You work hard so it is your right to treat yourself nice first, how much to tip should be optional. I tip based upon server's attitude and I have tipped 50% few times and 100% couple of times on $50 check. wondering if author is a leader of some waiters association LOL.

I'm sorry but these critics are way off. They don't know everyone's situation. With my wife and I money is tough. We are just ahead of the flyswatter but occasionaly we get a little bit ahead to actually treat ourselves to a dinner. I'm not talking $20-$100 a plate. I'm talking a simple $8.99-$15 per plate dinner. We maybe get a chance to enjoy a night out once every 3-4 months and to leave a 20% tip of smothing you've scrimped and saved for 3-4 months just to pay for the meal and leave a little bit for tip seems reasonable. Not every should be judged if you can't afford to do a 20% tip then don't go out.

I live in a country where many restuarants add the tip to the total bill no matter if the service was good, bad, or otherwise.That is wrong and that is why I do not go out to eat. If I do go out for dinner and the service is bad then I do leave a tip--one penny.

I am glad that I don't live in your country where you people think that tips must be given just because a person is doing his job. I don't get tips at my job and I don't see any reason to have to tip restaurant workers. If they need to make more money, they should get a different job, but most waiters are uneducated morons who should be thankful to have any type of job.

Why is it the Diner's responsibility to make sure the wait staff gets a "fair wage?" Shouldn't the wage be worked out between the employer and employee? Wouldn't it be so much easier just to have a policy where the price for the wait staff is just built into the price of the food or as some service fee (like a lot of places do for a party of 6 or more)? Then if you feel your waiter went above and beyond, you can tip if you feel like it.

Hi,

Andrew -- this has gotten out of line. Who makes these "rules"? No, seriously -- who are you to decide this? I was taught as a kid that you don't tip on the tax -- I am 50, and all of my friends do it and all of the waiters think you are stiffing them if you don't. I was always taught that if you have your haircut by the owner of the salon, you don't tip, either. But none of the Chinese/Vietnamese, etc. salon owners in my neighborhood know this. I told one once, and she clearly thought I was making it up and was mean -- certianly didn't give a flip what our "custom" is. SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET WORD OUT TO RESTAURANT WORKERS that this is true

I live in San Francisco and restaurant prices are VERY STEEP here. For two people to go out to even a moderate restaurant and have a drink or a glass of wine is $100 -- because parking is so back, you usually have to throw $15 into that, too. A drink in a moderately priced bar (NOT Pacific Heights or a tourist area) is $7 or $8. Twenty years ago, tipping bartender was ONLY done if you were a "regular" or if they had done something "special" -- pouring a vodka/tonic was not "special."

A dolar tip for popping off a bottle cap, is ridiculous, If you want a dollar tip for opening a beer for me you are crazy and maybe should of chosen another pofession. but as far as food service goes also take into account how long you are at teh table and equate it to an hourly wage. I will never pay somebody more per hour than make at a job that has a lot more stress and responsibility than being able to tak an order or set a plate of food on a table.