Another spin-off thread: How much to tip waitstaff in cafeteria settings

[rickybobby]

I was reared to believe in this setting, 10% is the norm since you go through the line to get your own food, take it to your own table, and the staff basically get you drink refills or the bottle of ketchup. In this setting, the staff can wait on lots more tables since they have less to do for each, and the tips therefore add up.
From what I have read in the other current tip thread, I am prepared to get "tip shamed".

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I pretty much tip a flat $1 per person (or say a pizza buffet where the wait staff refills your drink).

 

[kdonnel]

I tip 10-15% in cafeteria or buffet restaurants.

 

[neverlandsky]

For us the tipping depends on the amount per head and the quality of service.

For example, with The Wicked Spoon buffet we tipped $50 for 2 adults/2 kids. Very attentive service. The Bacchanal Buffet only got $20 from us due to lack of service.

Lower end buffets anywhere between $4-$20. If it’s a holiday, or they done a great job, or we have a large party (already charged 18% graduity with large party) we throw in $10-$20 extra.

Sweet Tomatoes where you do everything yourself $1.00 per head.

Any buffet where a chef is preparing your food you requested, pasta - omelette Mongolian stations always a $1 to them as well.

 

[amcnj]

I had always heard the 10% rule too. But I moved more to a level of service concept. I find that in some places the servers are on top of the drink refills and are clearing the plates frequently, actually making more visits to the table than at a standard restaurant.

Similarly I have had excellent service in some lower cost counter type places. They visit the table as much or more than at more expensive places, so could never see tipping them solely on the food cost.

Does anyone know what the wage structure is for people in the self serve places? Are they paid the wait staff rate, or some other wage?

 

[goodeats]

10-15%

There's also some restaurants (Nordstrom Cafes come to mind) where you order at the register and they bring you your entrée and refill your drinks.

 

[North of Mouse]

$1.00 per person as the buffet is usually about $10, so 10%. The only thing the server does for us is clear a couple plates ea. and wipes table. We are not demanding diners, and don't require drink refills.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

What about Panera

 

[Meriweather]

10%

 

[kdonnel]

What about Panera

Panera, at least around here, does not bring you the food in any way. You order at the register, you get your own food when your number is called, you bus your own table. No need to tip anyone.

 

[DisneyHardin]

At our favorite pizza buffet where you pay at a counter when you come in, I usually tip $1/person because even the drink machine is self serve. The only "service" you get is someone picking up used dishes.

At more "full service" buffet restaurants like the ones at Disney, I tip more because they do bring drinks and bring/deal with the check.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Panera, at least around here, does not bring you the food in any way. You order at the register, you get your own food when your number is called, you bus your own table. No need to tip anyone.

That is what I thought but there is a place to tip

 

[Christine]

Regarding Panera: If we are dining in, our Panera now brings all food to your table. We don't tip at all. That's all they do is bring the food over. It solved their problem of people hovering around the food distribution area. I still clear my own plate, refill my drink. Not sure why Panera has a tip jar at the register though--those are the same people that carry my food to me.

For some place like Boma at WDW where our server was hopping, I generally stick with the 20%, mainly because the waiter we had was so attentive.

For a cheap buffet place where you're going to get a different person every few minutes and they are just trying to keep your table clean, about 10%.

 

[CallieMar]

At a regular buffet (like in a casino), $1 per person plus $1-2 dollars on top of that. Fancy buffets with really good service I stick to 20%. At places where you order at the counter and they bring food to you, 10%. At food trucks I pretty much don’t tip at all and I’m sure there are people who would scold me for that. I worked in the service industry during college.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

$1 per person at most buffets, plus another buck or two on top of that. If the employees are especially attentive, maybe $2 per person plus.

 

[Kitty 34]

I think we need a "What Would you Tip" forum here on the DIS!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

If using Tables in Wonderland card at WDW, 18% added automatically at all sit downs, including buffets.

 

[sonnyjane]

Really surprised at how much some here have said they tip at Vegas buffets. Honestly I never get any type of service that would merit a 30%+ tip ($50 ?!?!) At Wicked Spoon and Bacchanal for example, they just leave a bottle of water at the table for you to refill your own. I don’t drink soda so... nothing there. When I get bottomless mimosas, they bring a bottle of champagne and you pour your own. At places like Bellagio and MGM, you get all your own drinks from a vending machine and get your own booze at the bar. All they do is bus the tables. I leave a few bucks on the table per person in cash (I hate tipping on a card for buffets at the beginning. Not a fan of tipping BEFORE you have your meal.)