How much do you tip in restuarants?

[Portugal1000]

Just been reading the Restaurant threads on here and seems to be lots of debate over tipping. We usually have the Dining Plan so the tip it has been included until this year. General consensus seems to be that you should leave between 18% and 20%. Do you think most people from England leave that much? I would be surprised. Was thinking of upgrading to Deluxe Dining Plan this year so we could go to lots of the Signature restaurants but with the extra for tips, just don't think its worth it now.

 

[keasden]

I usually leave 15% for average service, 20% if it has been particularly good and when calculating it I round it up to the nearest dollar.

Also leave a dollar per person at the buffet type restaurants such as Golden Corral and Ponderosa.

 

[bubblefactory]

We have a DDE card so we get 18% added automatically. I add a little extra if service has been exceptional. Off site we leave 15% - 20%.

 

[wayneg]

I usually leave 15% for average service, 20% if it has been particularly good and when calculating it I round it up to the nearest dollar.

Also leave a dollar per person at the buffet type restaurants such as Golden Corral and Ponderosa.

Same as me, except I leave $2pp in buffets but ate at Trails end at Easter which is exacly the same as buffets off site but on bottom of bill said it recomended about $15 on the $80 total (4 people) I went in the middle at $12

I have no problem leaving 15-20% but we don't go in expensive eateries thankfully,

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

That reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask. Last November when I was in central London I ate at one of those angus steakhouses. The menu stated that the prices included tax and service charge yet the waiter went out of his way to say the gratuity was not included. I aways thought that the "service charge" in Europe was the tip. The credit card receipt did have an extra line for a gratuity. Was I just an American chump paying extra?

BobK/Orlando

 

[Claire L]

That reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask. Last November when I was in central London I ate at one of those angus steakhouses. The menu stated that the prices included tax and service charge yet the waiter went out of his way to say the gratuity was not included. I aways thought that the "service charge" in Europe was the tip. The credit card receipt did have an extra line for a gratuity. Was I just an American chump paying extra?

BobK/Orlando

It was a cheeky way to get more money out of you

Have a look here.

Claire

 

[nibbo]

What I find interesting is that we are told to give 15-20% but having seen the locals tipping over their, they don't seem to tip anywhere near as much as this. Some don't even bother tipping or just leave a handful of cents on the table.

 

[wayneg]

What I find interesting is that we are told to give 15-20% but having seen the locals tipping over their, they don't seem to tip anywhere near as much as this. Some don't even bother tipping or just leave a handful of cents on the table.

Totally agree, I am a people watcher (Nosey sod) I watch what people leave all the time. One of the places we like is Sweet Tomatoes, last year I watched peoples tips who were all Americans. From 6 tables the most left was $3 for 4 people, 3 tables left nothing(to my knowledge).
We have friends who are Cast members when we go out for a meal they say 10-15% where we are told 15-20%.
I feel UK travellers have a bad reputation for tipping but the residents are just as bad sometimes.

 

[paulh]

reminds me of when had a meal at rainforest,meal was $52,gave a $100 tc with meal.waited for change for ages.eventaly got a manager to get server for our change.
Her reply was as we were english,and not used to tipping, she thought that she would keep the change as a tip.Heck a near 100% tip
Got our money back and a free meal because of her actions.
since always

 

[deejay-55]

15% - 20% is usual, either by cash or credit.

 

[cleo]

As an American I can assure you 15-20% is standard. Less if you're at a buffet where all the server brings you is drinks. Many Americans do feel they don't have to tip at a buffet, but if you want to be socially correct 10% at a buffet is standard.

Ultimately, the tip is up to you. If you want to follow the social custom, leave 15-20%.

 

[irenep]

I always leave 15% - even at buffets. This is mainly because I was a waitress in my younger days and know how hard it is. Also, my kids wouldn't let me leave anything else - they compete with each other to be the fastest to work out what the 15% is!

 

[Dimplenose]

reminds me of when had a meal at rainforest,meal was $52,gave a $100 tc with meal.waited for change for ages.

Similar thing happened to us at NBA in City Walk a few years ago. Even with a 15% tip our bill was less than $80, but we had to ask the server for our change from a $100 traveller's cheque. $20 at the time was worth nearly £15 and would have taken me nearly 3 hours to earn at my part time job. I know that waiting staff aren't well paid, but I work hard to save up my holiday money - I'm happy to tip but that was a bl@*!y cheek.

 

[Goofyish]

That reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask. Last November when I was in central London I ate at one of those angus steakhouses. The menu stated that the prices included tax and service charge yet the waiter went out of his way to say the gratuity was not included. I aways thought that the "service charge" in Europe was the tip. The credit card receipt did have an extra line for a gratuity. Was I just an American chump paying extra?

BobK/Orlando

I'm sure that in the UK 'service charge' is completely different to a 'tip' or 'gratuity'.

A service charge is a set charge for the service and does not necessarily go directly to the server. A tip is just a nice way of saying thank you to your server over and above their wages or the restaurant's service charge.

This differs from the US where the 'tip' is basically a service charge due to the low basic wage and servers getting taxed on the assumption they get a certain percentage of tips.

I usually tip 10% in the UK.

In the US I tip between 15 and 20% depending on service given and about 10% at a buffet - again depending on how attentive the server is in bringing drinks and refills etc.

The US system, although sometime a bit difficult for us Brits to come to terms with does give the server the incentive to provide a good level of service. I know some people who never leave a tip in the UK, or just leave the loose change left after paying the bill - I would imagine that they would find the US system very hard

 

[Dimplenose]

service charge.

This differs from the US where the 'tip' is basically a service charge due to the low basic wage and servers getting taxed on the assumption they get a certain percentage of tips.

I usually tip 10% in the UK.

I too tip 10% in UK but not if I've been automatically charged a service charge.

I believe that people in UK in professions where tipping is customary are also taxed on their estimated tips.

 

[traceycooper]

I always leave 15% - even at buffets. This is mainly because I was a waitress in my younger days and know how hard it is. Also, my kids wouldn't let me leave anything else - they compete with each other to be the fastest to work out what the 15% is!

who says travel isnt an education

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I'm sure that in the UK 'service charge' is completely different to a 'tip' or 'gratuity'.

No, it is just a different name for the same thing.

A 'service charge' or 'optional service charge' added to the bill at a restaurant is a way some restaurant owners take a share of the waiters tips & keep it for themselves, and at the same time make the tips count towards the minimum wage, thereby paying the waiters even less.

I remember when it was appropriate to tip 10%, or for very exeptional service, 12.5%-15%. Now the norm for service charges added to the bill is 18%. I don't think service in restaurants is better on average today than it was 20 years ago.

Even deducting an 'optional' service charge from the bill and tipping cash, doesn't always help the waiter because tips may be pooled.

Here in the UK, if a service charge is added to the bill, that is what they get from me. not a penny more, not a penny less.

Andrew

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

20% for table service,

$2/$3 per head for buffet.

I deduct for bad service, rare, but done it, Dennys for example.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Thanks everyone for the UK information. To clarify, they didn't ADD a service charge; supposedly the menu prices included VAT and Service Charge. There was then the Gratuity line on the credit card bill.

For the U.S., definitely 15 to 20% is customary at all restaurants where a waiter or waitress takes your order at your table and someone delivers it to you. For buffets such as Golden Corral or Ponderosa, 10% is fine (about $1/head) because all she is doing is taking your drink order and keeping your glass full.

BobK/Orlando

 

[darthtatty]

I too tip 10% in UK but not if I've been automatically charged a service charge.

I believe that people in UK in professions where tipping is customary are also taxed on their estimated tips.

yeah your right they are automatically taxed on their estimated tips for the year