Is it acceptable to tip less if the service was ok but the food was subpar?

Question

Is it acceptable to tip less if the service was ok but the food was subpar?

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

You really should not take it out on the server.... i always tip based on the server and their attitude

Answer 3

No! It's not fair to blame the servers for the food. I worked at a place with absolutely TERRIBLE food, but there wasn't anything I could do about it.

Answer 4

I tip strictly on service provided. If the food is subpar, request that it be remade or changed for another dish. Your server does not cook the food, but makes sure the accessories of the dining experience are timely, enjoyable and present.

Answer 5

The tip is for the wait staff.  You should tip them according to their service to you.  So I would say "no".

Answer 6

YES, the tip is for the moment that you walk in to the moment you walk out. besides it is the waitresses duty to be sure the food is perfect. If not they should not serve it and make the cook redo

Answer 7

It is too bad for the waiter/waitress to get a smaller tip due to the food.......but it happens. Personally I wouldn't blame the waiter/waitress, I 'd say something about the food and maybe change it to something else. If the food was too bad............I'd ask for the manager or owner.

Answer 8

No, because the tip is for the service.

Subpar food should be discussed with the manager.

Answer 9

For a server to get a sub-par tip from me they have to be pretty bad.  If I am not satisfied with the food I will complain to management, and if the food is really bad I will wait until there is a party coming in the door so that they can hear how bad my food was.  I have been told at one restaurant not to come back and I replied that he would not have to worry about seeing me again and that I would give a honest opinion of the quality of their food to others who might like to know.

Answer 10

You are tipping the waitstaff, not the cook. It is not the waitstaff's fault if the food is subpar. I'd talk with the manager- it is the food that should be discounted, not the tip. And I'd go to another restaurant from here on out, there are too many to sample to go back to one that's not worth it!

Answer 11

why to give tip...

Answer 12

the tip goes to the waiter , so you tip depending on the service of the waiter not the quality of the food

Answer 13

Yes it is acceptable (to a point) to tip "less," but don't forget to pass your complaint about the food to the waitstaff & or manager on duty.  If service was just "OK," then an okay tip to leave would be in the 10-15% range (OK, so maybe I appear to be a cheapskate! LOL) to help illustrate this point.  If the waitstaff does everything in their power and more than you ask for, you should reward their superior service with a monetary recognition of a job well done -- typically 20-25% and a word of praise to the manager (and the server too).

If the food was subpar, I would hope you tell the waitstaff or the manager immediately so the restaurant can correct this error, rather than waiting at the end when they can't really do anything for you ... other than offer a free dessert perhaps, or to deduct the price of the bad meal off the check (but you should still tip based on the entire original amount of the check).

Answer 14

Yes it is, I have done it for both bad service and if the food wasnt any good. Your paying for a service and if that service isnt any good why leave a good tip.

Answer 15

No, the server has no control over the kitchen. The server is responsible for getting the food correctly in a timely manner and making sure that drinks are satisfactory. The server has no control over the quality of the food, the lighting, whether you got seated at a booth or not, or customers next to you.

Answer 16

I wouldn't tip if the service was anything less than good. The food really isn't the waiter/waitress's fault, so it's not a good idea to take it out on them.

Answer 17

no the service was ok..they make like two bucks an hour...they arent cooking the food...

Answer 18

The tip is for the quality of the service - not the quality of the food but its a good question.  We have always thought that it should be possible to tip the kitchen staff when the food was great but the service was poor!  I would tip the wait staff but tell them what you found wanting in the food.  If no one ever complains they won't get any better!

Answer 19

Tip the server for their service not the quality of food and complain to the manager about the food Also praise the server if the service was all right or bad if not so the manager knows for the future

Answer 20

You shouldn't tip on the food - you're tipping on the service you got.  The server isn't responsible for bad food - the cook is.  I would suggest you tip the server appropriately and inform the restaurant manager of the food being subpar, because management won't know unless someone lets them know.

Answer 21

No way! You're tipping based on the service provided, not the way the food was prepared. If the food is terrible, ask to speak to the manager or chef, and discuss with them, but don't take it out on the server. "Don't shoot the messenger" so to speak.

Answer 22

I would still tip the server regardless of the sub-par food, and I would let the server know that If the taste of the food doesn't improve after the next visit, hasta la vista...baby!!!

Answer 23

your tip should be based on the full price of the food (not any discounts due to happy hour or coupons) and then adjusted based on level of service..

the only time it is appropriate to adjust tip based on food quality would be tipping the hibachi chef or sushi guy or something similar.

Answer 24

NO! What you should do is ask for a manager, tell him/her about the meal, tell him/her that your service was good though. And tip the server relatively to their performance. If you don't want to make a scene...write a note on your bill. Remember that the server had nothing to do with the taste.

Answer 25

Not really.  The service people don't make the food, so it's not their fault.

Answer 26

You tip for service from the waiter. The food may be great, but the chef doesn't see any of that money, only the waiter.

So don't lower your tip if the food is subpar.

Try this: If the food is subpar after the 1st bite, tell the waiter that you can't eat it and request another dish. If he obliges, then you know whether or not to tip well.