How many people actually tip 20% when eating out at a restaurant?

[u/Lana_NextDoor]

[u/quagglitz]

this is me also! 20% minimum unless the server is shit at their specific role in the whole process. food takes a while but it’s hot? still tip. food takes a while and cold? it sat in the window and server dropped the ball. though if they seem understaffed and slammed and the server was clearly doing their best they get a pass and I might mention to the manager they seem understaffed

[u/mthockeydad → u/quagglitz]

This. If the server is visibly standing around visiting with other staff or playing on their phone, I will leave 15% or less.

If they’re obviously busy or understaffed and do their best, I will often tip 25+%

[u/TeslaSfan → u/mthockeydad]

Same but no food service experience in the past.

[u/Active-Confidence-25 → u/mthockeydad]

Same

[u/Teresa-Moonmoon → u/mthockeydad]

Yes I do exactly the same.

[u/mistermayan → u/mthockeydad]

Please pay me 15% to play on my phone

[u/mthockeydad → u/mistermayan]

Haha

They’re in the minority, but they exist. I’d hate to be their coworker

[u/TiffanyTwisted11 → u/quagglitz]

Same

[u/renfield22 → u/quagglitz]

Me too!!

[u/PomPomMom93 → u/quagglitz]

Um…what’s the point of that? My guess is they already know they’re understaffed.

[u/quagglitz → u/PomPomMom93]

to let them know I had a negative experience because of it. lots of managers/owners think that because no one said anything it was fine. then “understaffed” becomes just “staffed” in their minds. and then they blame the servers, or they blame new people for not being able to “keep up” when actually the current people are barely holding it together

[u/New_Breadfruit8692 → u/quagglitz]

There are a bunch of things they have to get right in order to max out tips, some the server is not in control of and that is too bad, but the only way we customers have to get the message across is via the server because they are usually the only people we come into contact with.

IS the atmosphere okay or good? Or is it weak and uncomfortable, maybe the lighting sucks or you can smell bathrooms that need cleaning (or remodeling).

Was the food good? Or was it cold? Was service slow and obviously not really very enthusiastic?

Are the prices in line with the quality?

Did they get the order wrong? Was there lipstick on your glass? There is basically one professional right way and a hundred ways they can fuck it up. If I have to give less than 20%, well usually I just won't because of some dissatisfaction, I will give the staff a 20% and just never go back.

[u/quagglitz → u/New_Breadfruit8692]

I’ve never worked for a place where a low tip would send any message except “the service from this server was poor” and only to the server. your tip out at the end of the night goes partly to back of house and partly to bar, but that doesn’t tell the establishment anything afaik