Tipping at an Indian resturant

[sanabas]

Okay. But I think you might be underestimating the market sensibilities of most restaurants. I'm sure restaurants know how much money most waiters/waitresses make in tips, and they could do away with the gratuity system and change their wage to accurately reflect tip money.

That one I actually disagree with, as tip income is very variable, and very dependent on the amount of traffic through the restaurant. It'd be pretty hard to calibrate wages like that. Don't think anyone says tips should be abolished entirely, I just don't think tips should be expected, and they certainly shouldn't be part of the standard wage structure. You should know in advance that you're getting paid a reasonable amount for your work. If customers are very happy and want to reward you, that's a bonus. It shouldn't be an expectation on the part of either the customer or the staff.

 

[Whomp]

Opening a new restaurant entails risk, usually lots of it. It’s estimated that of the half million or so restaurants in the U.S. around 10 to 15 percent are forced to close each year. If the burden of a quintupled wage(and that's conservative) was to be put on the owner it would annihilate the industry. Tipping has become a multi-billion industry in the U.S. I don't think it will be legislated out since servers are a small piece of the "tip" community.

 

[Urederra]

Hard to ask when they're nowhere to be found.

So, if there is no waiter, then you are not in a restaurant, but in your house. I haven't had to wait for one hour and a half to be served in a restaurant, either.

That is one of the reasons I think restaurant owners should pay the waiters full salary. How much waiter makes or not shouldn't be my problem. And then, if your waiter is very busy you ask another waiter and that is all. Since you don't have to tip, you can ask another waiter for water. There are nice people working at walmart as well, and some of them cannot make ends meet, and nobody tips them.


And that is the other thing, you have to tip if the service is good, If is not that good, tip, but not that much. That make the service to be very good, that is the theory, but... Can you choose your waiter in first place? I am afraid not, I have never chosen a waiter. It is always a matter of which waiter is free when the customer arrives. Who chooses which waiters can work is the owner of the restaurant, not me.

 

[CruddyLeper]

Anyway, tipping is an American custom, as far as I know. So am I expected to tip at an Indian resturant?

It's a universal custom to put cash in people's hands for good service.

Forget the custom crap - was the service good? Was it worth a tip? Or was it just terrible?

 

[Urederra]

It's a universal custom to put cash in people's hands for good service.

Forget the custom crap - was the service good? Was it worth a tip? Or was it just terrible?

The first post says that it is a buffet, where you pick your food by yourself, In that case, I would say, no, unless the waiter refills glasses, gives you coffee, In that case, a buck or two should be fine, IMHO.

 

[CruddyLeper]

Using the logic "It's an INDIAN buffet so I shouldn't give a tip"...

...should I be expected to give a tip at my local Burger King or McDs? Because they are American style food outlets, so surely American customs should prevail?

TIP: To Insure Promptness.

 

[RedWolf]

Opening a new restaurant entails risk, usually lots of it. It’s estimated that of the half million or so restaurants in the U.S. around 10 to 15 percent are forced to close each year. If the burden of a quintupled wage(and that's conservative) was to be put on the owner it would annihilate the industry. Tipping has become a multi-billion industry in the U.S. I don't think it will be legislated out since servers are a small piece of the "tip" community.

As mentioned before the price of the food would increase. This would compensate for the higher labour costs.

 

[Whomp]

As mentioned before the price of the food would increase. This would compensate for the higher labour costs.

I'd rather tip $10-20 than pay an extra $10-20 for my meal.

The first post says that it is a buffet, where you pick your food by yourself, In that case, I would say, no, unless the waiter refills glasses, gives you coffee, In that case, a buck or two should be fine, IMHO.

So true Urederra. I think we got off base. A buffet does not not deserve a big tip.

 

[Imaginos]

But whenever we go out my mom keeps harassing me so to avoid making a scene I tip a dollar. Oh I should add that at most of the resturants I go to in my area the waiters/waitresses are quite rude.

Maybe they are quite rude because they know you are the one that only tips a dollar?

 

[Renata]

If you are in the US, leave a 15% tip unless the service was exceptionally poor. Waiters and waitresses are allowed to be paid less than the minimum wage only because of the strong custom of tipping by which they make up the difference. Leave off the tip, and you're exploiting them.

Edit: Same thing if it's a buffet. Possibly it should be different, but it isn't. The waiters still get paid the same pathetic wage, no matter how the food is served. So leave the tip, and don't be a cheap twerp.

 

[Whomp]

Here is standard U.S. tipping etiquette for restaurants.

Spoiler :

Food server - 15-20%
Cocktail server - 15-20%. For free drinks in Vegas, tip $1-2 per round.
Bartender - 15-20% or $1 per drink. If at the bar before a meal, settle up with the bartender before you go to your table.
Wine steward - 10% of wine bill.
If a bar has a cover charge, you do not tip on it.
Busboys - Nothing, unless he did something extra special like cleaning up a huge mess. Then give him $1-2.
Maitre d' - Nothing, unless he gets you a special table or the restaurant is full and you had no reservation. Then give $5-10 or more.
Coat check - $1
Restroom attendant - $1
Separate checks - If you want separate checks, ask the server to go ahead and add 18% gratuity to each check.
Musician in lounge - $1-5
Musician that visits table - $2-3 if you make a special request. Optional if he just stops by and plays.
Takeout - If you get good service, in other words, the waiter gets and packages the food, then tip $1-2 or up to 10%.
Drive through - Nothing.
Self-service restaurant or buffet - Nothing unless there is some service. Tip 10% if the server delivers all or part of your meal or keeps your drinks refilled.
When breakfast is included in the price of the hotel room - Estimate the value of the meal by looking at a menu. If there is no breakfast menu, consider the quality of the hotel and the price of an evening meal, then make your best estimate. Your tip should be 15-20% of your estimate.
Teppanyaki chef - 15-20% of the total bill. The gratuity will be split among the wait staff and the chef.

 

[bhsup]

Drive through - Nothing.

Are you telling me you don't tip the Sonic girls? Those poor gals have to go out in all sorts of weather to deliver their food. I always tip them.

 

[Renata]

Every lunch buffet I've ever been to, the waiter still brings drinks, the checks and such. And they're available if someone wants to order something off the menu instead. So 'nothing' should never apply.

And as I mentioned, the low wage is still in effect -- the waiter doesn't get paid more just because his boss decided to set up a ten-dollar all-you-can-eat buffet to bring in more customers.

 

[ew0054]

Here is standard U.S. tipping etiquette for restaurants.

Spoiler :

Food server - 15-20%
Cocktail server - 15-20%. For free drinks in Vegas, tip $1-2 per round.
Bartender - 15-20% or $1 per drink. If at the bar before a meal, settle up with the bartender before you go to your table.
Wine steward - 10% of wine bill.
If a bar has a cover charge, you do not tip on it.
Busboys - Nothing, unless he did something extra special like cleaning up a huge mess. Then give him $1-2.
Maitre d' - Nothing, unless he gets you a special table or the restaurant is full and you had no reservation. Then give $5-10 or more.
Coat check - $1
Restroom attendant - $1
Separate checks - If you want separate checks, ask the server to go ahead and add 18% gratuity to each check.
Musician in lounge - $1-5
Musician that visits table - $2-3 if you make a special request. Optional if he just stops by and plays.
Takeout - If you get good service, in other words, the waiter gets and packages the food, then tip $1-2 or up to 10%.
Drive through - Nothing.
Self-service restaurant or buffet - Nothing unless there is some service. Tip 10% if the server delivers all or part of your meal or keeps your drinks refilled.
When breakfast is included in the price of the hotel room - Estimate the value of the meal by looking at a menu. If there is no breakfast menu, consider the quality of the hotel and the price of an evening meal, then make your best estimate. Your tip should be 15-20% of your estimate.
Teppanyaki chef - 15-20% of the total bill. The gratuity will be split among the wait staff and the chef.

Where do yuo come up with these figures/ I say if ANYTHING a dollar... two is pushing it. Restroom attendant? WTH is that? I don't want someone in the bathroom with me! The only tip I'd give him is the tip of my shoe up his a$$!

 

[ew0054]

Here is standard U.S. tipping etiquette for restaurants.

Spoiler :

Food server - 15-20%
Cocktail server - 15-20%. For free drinks in Vegas, tip $1-2 per round.
Bartender - 15-20% or $1 per drink. If at the bar before a meal, settle up with the bartender before you go to your table.
Wine steward - 10% of wine bill.
If a bar has a cover charge, you do not tip on it.
Busboys - Nothing, unless he did something extra special like cleaning up a huge mess. Then give him $1-2.
Maitre d' - Nothing, unless he gets you a special table or the restaurant is full and you had no reservation. Then give $5-10 or more.
Coat check - $1
Restroom attendant - $1
Separate checks - If you want separate checks, ask the server to go ahead and add 18% gratuity to each check.
Musician in lounge - $1-5
Musician that visits table - $2-3 if you make a special request. Optional if he just stops by and plays.
Takeout - If you get good service, in other words, the waiter gets and packages the food, then tip $1-2 or up to 10%.
Drive through - Nothing.
Self-service restaurant or buffet - Nothing unless there is some service. Tip 10% if the server delivers all or part of your meal or keeps your drinks refilled.
When breakfast is included in the price of the hotel room - Estimate the value of the meal by looking at a menu. If there is no breakfast menu, consider the quality of the hotel and the price of an evening meal, then make your best estimate. Your tip should be 15-20% of your estimate.
Teppanyaki chef - 15-20% of the total bill. The gratuity will be split among the wait staff and the chef.

Where do you come up with these figures? I say if ANYTHING a dollar... two is pushing it. Restroom attendant? WTH is that? I don't want someone in the bathroom with me! The only tip I'd give him is the tip of my shoe up his a$$!

 

[nonconformist]

Well, abroad also, if they make a special effortt to help translate,a nd help you choose, especially in English, it's nice to leave a large tip
(and then they thank you a lot)

 

[Whomp]

Where do yuo come up with these figures/ I say if ANYTHING a dollar... two is pushing it. Restroom attendant? WTH is that? I don't want someone in the bathroom with me! The only tip I'd give him is the tip of my shoe up his a$$!

Some of the finest restaurants have bathroom attendants. They may offer you real towels or a stick of gum for the hot date you're on, maybe some cologne because you're sweating profusely from said date. Don't worry though you won't find these guys at Applebee's or a all you can eat buffet .

Are you telling me you don't tip the Sonic girls? Those poor gals have to go out in all sorts of weather to deliver their food. I always tip them.

I've never been to a Sonic is but if they are delivering to your car I'd agree.

 

[RedWolf]

Here's the thing guys - when you're on a date, women love guys that tip well.

Now before I explain - I tip because I genuinely believe in all of the things I've said in this thread. I realize they have a difficult job and are also paid lousy wages. Also I grew up watching my father tip well.

However when I started dating my girlfriend my tipping habits helped endear her to me. Most women have worked as waitresses at some time in their lives and they KNOW how poor the wages are, how hard they work, and how much crap they deal with from idiotic people. Furthermore on a larger scale, in a social context - waitressing is a female dominated position that helps often single moms support their families and earn more then they could in a typical service industry position.

Trust me - tipping is very female friendly.

Also have you ever heard the old theory that one way of sizing up a potential partner is by watching how they treat the people that serve them?

 

[Bigfoot]

At restaurants I tip 15-20%, depending on how happy I was with the service: so long as the service was acceptably good I will leave 20% (although my wife thinks I am too generous). For really crappy service I have left a penny, tails side up! But as a rule I am a good tipper and I tend to get good service.

Slightly OT, but I remember reading somewhere that in the US tipping practices vary by gender, ethnicity, and by region. White males tend to be the best tippers on average, so I guess I fit the profile.

 

[RedWolf]

I saw a study once that said that waitresses that touch the customers (her hand on your arm breify for example) get consistently higher tips.