Overtipped - can I make up for it next time?

Question

My wife and I frequently go to a particular restaurant. The food is great, and the service is usually great, too.

However, last time we went there, it was an absolute trainwreck. There were 13 customers in the restaurant and at least 4 staff, but from the time we walked in the door to the time the food started arriving was 2 hours. He didn't bring us the right food. When he brought the right food later, our water glasses were empty, and he said he'd come refill them right away, but instead he disappeared for 30 minutes, so we ate our whole meals (spicy!) with no water.

Anyway, the waiter was very apologetic, and comp'ed everything but my wife's entree. He charged us $11 for probably $25 of food. Just to not waste another half hour waiting for him to run my credit card, I put down a $20 (the only cash we had) and left. If I had smaller bills, I would have paid about $13-14. So...would it be wrong of me to deduct $1 from the tip, each of the next 6 times I go there?

Answer 1

asking me. if that happend to me i probly wouldn't. if had seves like that i probly wouldn't tip. if the servis was good a normal tip. you got 5 $s you wouldn't have just foreget it.

Answer 2

Well, if you get the same waiter next time, that's entirely up to you.  

BUT if you get a different waiter, DON'T take out your previous bad experience on him/her.

If I were you, however, I would just let it go.  You might have a great experience again the next time you go.  The bad experience could have been attributed to new, inexperienced staff (yes, there is actually significant employee turnover in the restaurant industry).  BTW, you mentioned "4 staff;" is that the total staff including waiters or 4 waiters on the floor?

Answer 3

There could be lots of reasons they were having a hard time, maybe the kitchen staff was WAY WAY short, and at least the waiter tried to do his wrongs rite.. Plus you prob wont get the same person every single time, so its not fair to that individual. Bad service is always a big turn off for me, I usually wont go back to a place after something like that for a while..

Answer 4

Yes it would be wrong, since it is not likely you will have the same waiter every time. And just so you know when they comp your meal you are suppose to tip bigger.  If you go there all the time, each time you tip poorly the next time you go in your waiter will become more and more scarce.

Answer 5

no,it is only fair after the terrible service you got.