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Honestly though, that's usually not the biggest issue for customers though. When people make a choice of how much to tip, it's based on the service they received. This is not just about how long it took for the food to be prepared, or whether minor mistakes were made. It's more about how the wait staff interacts with the customer. Your waiter is not dependent on the kitchen with regards to whether or not he can come by the table and ask us how we're doing and if we need anything. He's typically equally capable of keeping our glasses filled and making sure we have the things we've asked for.

I have very very rarely reduced a tip because of a mistake on the order or delay getting my food. But if I'm waiting an hour for my order to arrive and I haven't seen my waiter in that entire time *then* it's going to reduce the tip. If my glass is empty and not only does it not get refilled, but I can't even flag someone down to alert them to this fact, that's going to reduce the tip. You can be busy without appearing as though you have more important things to do than your job. And if something gets missed, or there's a delay or mistake, a timely apology and update works wonders at keeping that tip intact. If my meal is delayed and my waiter comes to my table and says that "there's some issue in the kitchen and it'll take a bit longer for the food, but while we're waiting is there anything else we need?... goes a freaking long way towards the "good service" side of things. The flip side is that if I'm waiting that long and there's no explanation and the waiter seems to be avoiding our table because the kitchen messed up the order that pushes things in the other direction.


I'm tipping the server, not the kitchen. Yes. I'm aware that the kitchen staff and the bus staff gets a piece, but my primary concern is whether the service was good. If the meal is bad, or takes too long, that's going to affect my decision to come back to that restaurant, but wont typically impact my tip.

What the hell are you going on about? You tell me that's not what the biggest issue for customers but then go on to tell me that the service from the waiter is the issue, while quoting me saying that a waiter should be able to make up for a slow kitchen.

Either you're somehow, completely misunderstanding me, or making my argument for me.

I never had a problem with bussers stealing my cash tips.

Probably because I swooped down on the tables and picked up my tips before the bussers got there.

There is no way that 18% is the "minimum gratuity" for a large party. It's the suggested gratuity, and it's calculated and added automatically to the bill because people tend to lose their mathematical abilities when calculating tips for any group larger than about 4 and the restaurants know this.

It's still a tip. The difference is that instead of putting the bottom amount (0%) and hoping the customer remembers to calculate the tip properly, they put in a highish amount (18% in this case) and figure most people will just pay it because it's already on the bill. It's still legally a gratuity and therefore optional.


It's about forgetful customers, not the size of the party in terms of difficulty. Which would you rather deal with as a waiter? One table with 8 people, or 8 tables with one person? Obviously, you'll take the large party. Wait staff fight over how many large parties they get, and there's usually a rotation to get them for exactly the reason that it's a much better tip/time and tip/work ratio. It's not harder in relation to a total dollar amount of food sold to work a large party. It's easier...

No they don't. Well, yes they do, but mostly it's getting upset they got a large table.

Let me clarify, as you're partially right. In my experience, wait staff fight to not get the large tables because it's a lot of work, you don't flip as many groups and therefore, often end up with less tips as your sales aren't as high.


Now, I took all the large parties I could as I just kept them smashed, therefore their cheques were abnormally large and they were tanked and often tipping more generously as a result.

Edited, Nov 19th 2009 9:22pm by Uglysasquatch

Ah ha! Continue.

You work(ed) at some messed up places then. Everyone I've ever known who's worked as a waiter has talked at length about how unfair it is that the folks with the seniority (or who are suspected of working on their knees for the boss) get the best shifts and the bulk of the large parties. That's what everyone wants. It takes vastly less effort and time to work one large table than a bunch of small ones. But the 15% of 8 meals is the same whether it's one table with 8 people, or 2 tables with 4, or 4 tables with 2, or 8 tables with one.

Are you honestly saying you'd rather work more small tables? Cause that flies in the face not only with basic logic, but with every other person working in that field I've ever spoken to.

You're right! your second hand knowledge of the industry is CLEARLY superior to the first hand knowledge of multiple people.


The place I worked didn't do that until you got to 16.



Edited, Nov 19th 2009 7:31pm by Bardalicious

See my above edit, but jsut so you know, you're speaking to an elite few in the industry as in all my years in restaurants, it's a minority that know the truth behind larger parties.

Ah, but typically, they are easier. Don't get me wrong, the initial hit of the first drink order is harder, but after you get those drinks out, the rest is a breeze.

gbaji, how much experience do you have as a waiter?

Yes. They include the word "gratuity". Not "surcharge". Gratuity. A gratuity is a gift given in excess of the required amount in return for service. It is "optional". All that wording means is that they're calculating your tip for you and putting it on the bill. Barring some bizarre local legislation specific to gratuities, you are not required to pay that portion of the bill and can refuse to pay it, or reduce it if you want.

Most people just pay what's on the bill in that situation. And that usually works out just peachy for everyone. That's why restaurants do that.



No. You are being notified that they are adding the tip to your bill for you. That's it. It is no less optional.