Do you tip at Buffets?

[Slapster]

I tip 20% at buffets and table service. If the service is overtly neglectful I tip less, usually 10%. If the service is downright rude (yes, it's happened a few times) I tip 1% and alert the manager. If you leave nothing they just assume you forgot - a small tip shows that you were displeased.

 

[DanaHesson]

than a server at a table service restaurant.

Look at it this way....

You are at Concourse Steakhouse. You order a salad or appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. You have MAX three plates to be cleared. You probably get the same number of refills on your soda.

You are at Crystal Palace.
You see that Salmon. You dont normally like fish, but you decide to try it. YOu hate it, and go back for another plate. You decide to try the yummy looking salads, but just a DAB of each, to see what you like. Running total= 2 plates and you havent even had an "entree" yet. You REALLY like the Tropical slaw, so you decide to get some more of that, and some fresh fruit. You finish all of that and go back for some carved prime rib, and you get the traditional tiny sliver they serve you, but you REALLY love prime rib so you go back again Running total=5 plates for just one person, and we arent even talking about the adobo pork or the pastas yet. And all this time your waiter (if you are lucky you get christopher if you are at Crystal Palace) is keeping the table cleared and the glasses full to the top.

Trust me, it is MUCH more work to wait on buffett than it is table service, please remember this whether at Golden Corral, Sweet Tomatoes, or a Disney buffett. If they let your plates pile up, THEN cut the tip.

 

[donaldtutter]

i don't understand why someone wouldn't tip. i tip the same as at full service restaurant -- 20%.

 

[sadeeyore]

Only buffets we have eaten at are Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey breakfasts, tipped at least 20%
They always work so hard they deserve tipping. They were really helpful with my DS who has autism and only eats hot croissants . Nothing seemed to be too much trouble, especially both times we were at Crystal Palace

(We tip in the UK as well if the servers are helpful although probably 10% )

 

[stemikger]

I always leave a tip. In fact, it's always too much. I used to work for tips so I always give a good one.

Even though they aren't serving you they clear off your table several times throughout the dinner, so that is how they are servicing you.

 

[WillCAD]

than a server at a table service restaurant.

Look at it this way....

You are at Concourse Steakhouse. You order a salad or appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. You have MAX three plates to be cleared. You probably get the same number of refills on your soda.

You are at Crystal Palace.
You see that Salmon. You dont normally like fish, but you decide to try it. YOu hate it, and go back for another plate. You decide to try the yummy looking salads, but just a DAB of each, to see what you like. Running total= 2 plates and you havent even had an "entree" yet. You REALLY like the Tropical slaw, so you decide to get some more of that, and some fresh fruit. You finish all of that and go back for some carved prime rib, and you get the traditional tiny sliver they serve you, but you REALLY love prime rib so you go back again Running total=5 plates for just one person, and we arent even talking about the adobo pork or the pastas yet. And all this time your waiter (if you are lucky you get christopher if you are at Crystal Palace) is keeping the table cleared and the glasses full to the top.

Trust me, it is MUCH more work to wait on buffett than it is table service, please remember this whether at Golden Corral, Sweet Tomatoes, or a Disney buffett. If they let your plates pile up, THEN cut the tip.

Waiters at buffets don't serve you, except to bring you drinks. They bus your table. Yeah, that's hard work, and in your case it may be harder work than the bus boys at the sit-down restaurants - but do you routinely tip your bus boys? Most people don't; they only tip the waiters.

And in my case, I have the same number of plates, bowls, and cups at a buffet as I do at a sit-down restaurant. My parents taught me when I was a kid that each time you go to the buffet, you should fill your plate with all of the foods that you want to try. Sure, I sometimes try stuff that I wind up disliking and leaving it on the plate, but I rarely have more than two plates plus a desert plate at a buffet, bringing me back to my original conclusion - the waiters at a buffet work much less at my table than the waiters at a sit-down. Hence, they get a smaller tip.

 

[stemikger]

Originally posted by Kimberly
I always tip at buffets

Forgive me for getting off the subject, but is it me or is Kimberly one hot hot hot lady.

Wow. Everytime I see your picture, I get that warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

 

[FigNewton]

I always tip, but never as much as I do at a full service establishment. I probably would tip more if I ate as much as some people are talking about here, but I tend to not have a bunch of plates that need to be cleared continuously.

Working at a full table service isn't just taking an order and bringing the food either. Wait staff are also responsible for making sure orders are right, taking back dishes to the kitchen and rectifying problems with the cooks, making sure the billing is right on multiple dishes (way harder than a simple multiplier for a buffet), and in some cases the wait staff prepare the salads as well. I've known a few where they also prepare the deserts.

I'm sorry, but when you essentially are only bringing me a drink and a check, the most you are going to get is 10-15%, whereas for full table service I will usually tip 20-30%.

 

[drogerstn]

Forgive me for getting off the subject, but is it me or is Kimberly one hot hot hot lady...

Haven't seen your picture so I don't know which one of you is one hot hot hot lady...

 

[drogerstn]

Wait staff at some full service restaurants do more work than the staff at buffets. Some places they have to prepare drinks, fix salads, put in orders, handle the bill payment, etc. Some buffets don't have staff performing these duties. Obviously, it varies...

I'm not too hung up on percentages; I like to tip based on what I feel is a fair amount for the service received. At a given restaurant, we receive the same service whether we order the least expensive or most expensive entrees.

 

[Jaxs27]

We never eat at buffets except at WDW and we are on the dining plan so it is included.

 

[Kay1]

We tip 15% at buffets - sometimes more. At Sweet Tomatoes, we only tip a dollar per person, though, because of its cafeteria-like service. Usually, there, someone only buses our plates at the end of the meal.

 

[philaround]

Yes I do tip at a buffet but usually $2.00 to $3.00 per diner. The CM's at Disney buffets usually get more then that from me.

 

[TreslovesWDW]

We always tip.