Are you supposed to tip when taking a meal "to-go"?

Question

If yes, in what situation and at what rate?

Answer 1

Yes, you should. Some restaurants do pay their to-go servers better, and some restaurants pay all the servers the same. I always tip at least 2-3 dollars depending on how demanding my meal was. Like...if I'm feeding 10 people, I would tip more. The server has to go to the kitchen, check your food to make sure it's right, put it in the bag, and wait for you to show up. So they're still doing work. Also, you can tip on how fast you got your to-go food, how hot it was when it got to you, and if the order was correct.

Answer 2

One or two dollars is nice because that server got stuck working the carry out station so they will not make their usual tips for the night.

Answer 3

For me it depends. If I were to order to go and I know they made an extra effort to put all the required things in my bag (napkins, forks etc) or even plates or extra items that you don't get with take out sometimes (like bread chips or salsa) I will tip.

If you are not sitting down you are not required to.

Answer 4

The only time I tip is when I am eatting at the restuarant and there is a waitress or waiter waiting on me and if I order a meal to go while eatting than yes I will tip but if I just go in and get a to go order no I don't tip.

Answer 5

no -- you're tipping the server for the service when you dine-in..

Answer 6

No haha i dont think so

when eating at a resturant you tip the waiter // waitress ..

in this case i guess you should tip your self =]

Answer 7

No.  I find it annoying that many put out tip jars when they're serving food to go.  They took your order, money, and eventually handed you your food.  They're not waiting on you nor cleaning up after you.

Answer 8

I rarely do unless the service was extraordinary and they did something special...because without an actually waiter/waitress whats the sense.

Answer 9

You mean like for instance Applebees take out? Yes, tip them lol I have worked in resturants for the past 7 years and although I didn't do take out/to go I DO know that they don't get paid alot hourly because they are supposed to get tips. (for the most part) They do get paid more than servers (between 5-7 an hour) so I'd say mabey 2-3 bucks...depending on how much food they had to get for you. (I say food, not check because getting the food ready to go when you're busy is a pain in the ***)

Answer 10

Always tip.  The going rate in the united states if around 18%

Answer 11

no they didn't serve u .

Answer 12

almost never.

there may be some rare circumstances where they went way beyond normal for you - but that is so rare.

Answer 13

If it's McDonald's or Jack N The Box No!

Answer 14

Well, I guess it depends...

I work @ a small town restr. , as a "cashier". If we fix up "to-go" orders, the waitress gets the tip, regardless...

As a cashier, I am paid $7 an hour. I work with (do the HARD work for...) a waitress. She averages about $20 per hour. It really sucks.

Answer 15

If it is a meal to go at a regular restaurant then, Yes, the rate would be at least 10% - to the normal rate.  As long as you got good prompt service and the server had to run putting in the order to the kitchen, run around getting your food, getting you utensils & napkins, etc...all nice and ready for you to take, pay and get out of there then you should have the consideration to understand that you probably took up time that they would have used helping the other customers in the restaurant and that a buck or two thrown their way would probably be greatly appreciated and maybe even insure you to be recognized & helped faster the next time.

Answer 16

its deffinitly nice and appreciated but its not american spec unless you got food for the whole office and now they have to load your vehicle.

every $ counts in the service industrie.

Answer 17

i alway just through in a buck for the h**l of it....something about people who never tip, and get take out,,,i would do it. I live by a little deli and i alway tip., just so they don't think i am stingy and you know...special sauce my food...

Answer 18

I would say yes, leave a tip for the to go person. I work in a small restaurant, so much of our time is spent preparing to go orders, and this may cause our other customer who are dining inside the restaurant to wait for something, thus reducing our tip from dine-in. If it is a chain type restaurant, a dollar or 2 will suffice, but if it's fast food, then no, I wouldn't tip.  Also, keep in mind that when a server orders food for you under their server number, it isn't usually designated as a to go order, and thus taxes must be paid on the expected tip.

Answer 19

Unless the person putting together your order (collecting the food from the kitchen, bagging it up, adding napkins, utensils, drinks, condiments, etc) is a designated to-go-order server, they are probably taking time out from their regular tables in order to help you. (Bartenders or barbacks are often relegated to this task.) This delays the service that person would normally provide to their dine-in customers and may affect their tips from those customers.

I don't believe there is any standard for tipping to-go. However, I usually tip when picking up carry-out; generally half of what I'd normally tip dining in. It's not required but I've been a to-go-order server before and I always appreciated the tips I received even though they were never expected. :)