Tipping wait-Staff more than 100% on a very small Bill. Is this rude, respectful. or something else?

Question

If you are now or were a food service worker please disclose this when you reply.

The context of this question is that I go out with a group of people to a resturant every month or three after a monthly meeting and I often do not order food because I eat before the meeting (to be more functional).

This evening I did not order food but did order a soda and my Bill came to less that $2.50. Since I had only a couple of $5 bills I just handed my waiter a five and told him to keep the change.

I am very comfortable with my reasons for making this choice but I wonder what other people in other regions, or that work in the Food Service Industry think about very high tipping when the Bill is very small.

And; yes I did do a search for similar questions before I posted this question.

Answer 1

I am a vegetarian and run into this all the time- I cannot eat at odd times either so..

I do as you do. order water- usually charged 2.50 or up. and maybe rolls. I tip what equals 100% of the bill for their time.

I was a waitress years ago and any tip was welcome. but it was common to serve a coffee- 10 cents (don't faint) and have the customer leave a quarter tip. I'll tell you I was giddy. back then getting 8.00 a day in tips was pig heaven.

Answer 2

If your service is good then I will tip.  If it is excellent I will tip well. If not I wont anything.  If your service is poor I will complain to the management. If the food is poor I complain about the chef via the manager.

Answer 3

Yes, I have been in the service industry for over 12 years, so I can hopefully give you a thoghtful answer on helalf of us "in the biz" people.

The first thing you have to realize, is that when a group comes in, the server is expected to make money. It's a huge disappointment to set up tables, polish glassware, and make sure everything is just so.....only to find out that the people will just be ordering sodas and small apps.

I also go out with a group of non-service employed people, and for the most part they understand, but there are the few exceptions who cheat out the server on what should be a good tip (considering the amount of people in the party). As much as I do not want to offend my didning companions, I always make sure the server is taken care of, even if it comes out of my own pocket.

So, to answer your question, yes, it is more than acceptable to leave a 100% tip. If you ordered a $2.00 drink, are you really going to leave the server $.30? Come on now? That just ends up on the bottom of their apron.

People really need to understand that servers work their behinds off, and deserve every dollar they make. And yes, we consider coins cheap. At least have the decency to leave a dollar or two on a drink!

Answer 4

I am sorry but I have to disagree.  Most restraunts now automatically have an 18% tip added on to groups of 8 or more.  The tip is spread out among the group not for one person to have to pay a good part of it.  If you are only ordering water surely the host staff can bring it along with the other drinks to the table.  I would tip but not that much, if all you had was $5s maybe you could get change from another person at the table.  I used to work as a busperson however I wasn't there long.  Maybe because I felt the management should raise the wages instead of scre#ing the public.

Answer 5

As an ex-server, I think this is great.  If your check were $2 and you had left 30 cents, that just would have been insulting.  You probably were paid just as much attention as those who actually had dinner.  You showed a lot of class!

Answer 6

It sounds generous to me. I have never worked in a restaurant but thanks to friends who do/have, I know the importance of tipping fairly. I have been in situations rather similar to yours involving breakfast. I may not be spending all that much on my order but I don't want to leave just some coins for a tip. So, instead of my customary 25% I will leave something more if it also means that I don't have to deal with a lot of bill-changing. I am pretty sure your waiter was appreciative of what you left. I would be!!

Answer 7

I was a server for 30 years and it was always a nice surprise when someone gave me an extra generous tip. Maybe the last few customers had been really difficult and a nice thing like that would be just what I needed to get me through the rest of the day. Look at it more as a good deed as well as  a reward for good service if you are being especially generous.

Answer 8

I did several tours of duty as a waitress, and in my view you are a class act.

Answer 9

I'm also an ex-waiter....that is total generosity...of course i was always content with what i got....i've got fifty bucks on a 12 dollaR MEAL....and and 20 for 2 pieces of pie...so this means you have a heart and very generous....Bless you...have a good one

Answer 10

Food service veteran here. I think that is very nice of you to do that. Servers here in NC only make $3.15 an hour so are very dependent on tips for their living.

Answer 11

I am currently a server in Texas, we make $2.13 an hour and work in a nice restaurant.  However we have 3 table sections.  I think your gesture was very nice.  Sometimes the generosity of people such as yourself is the only thing that can get you through your shift.  Remember there are still people out there that are going to have a $100.00 ticket for four people and they will only leave you $4.00, only $1.00 per person.  So I think you are a wonderful person for your kindness to your server.  I am positive that they appreciate you when you walk in.  Just because you only had a drink does not mean that you were served any better or any less than those that got full meals.  Sometimes that can be twice as much work (more refills, constantly) as those with meals.

Answer 12

Server here, yeah, that's fine. I especially like bigger tips when people are taking up a table and not eating or they sit for a long time and I miss getting another table.