restaurant tipping

[sharonW]

If your using gift cards to pay for dinner,
is it appropriate to pay the tip with any
amount that may be left over?

 

[claudia]

check the fine print on the gift card. I'm looking at an Outback one right now and it says "no" for tip and alchololic beverages.

 

[Camicar]

We did that once with this chi-chi nouvelle cuisine restaurant where there was nothing on the menu we wanted other than an appetizer or two. It turned out that our waitress was one of my dh's students interns and we had the manager give her the entire balance on the gift card ($50+) as our tip.

 

[scrapquitler]

We always get gift cards for places like Applebees, Chilis and Olive Garden from our rewards credit card and as gifts from some family members. We always use part of the gift card value as the tip.

Yesterday when DD and I went to Olive Garden, I had a $40 gift card and I bill was about $20. I paid with the gift card, and the server brought back a receipt for me to sign, and it said "Gift card balance before tip $19.63" or whatever the amount was. Then on the receipt there was a place to add the tip and total it, just like when you pay with a credit card. I added the tip amount ($4.00 if it matters) and wrote the total on the slip.

When we go back, the balance on the card will be $15.63 and we will apply that amount to the bill for that trip.

A gift certificate should work just like cash. Some restaurants may deal with thsi differntly, so ask the server if you aren't sure.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[aprilgail2]

check the fine print on the gift card. I'm looking at an Outback one right now and it says "no" for tip and alchololic beverages.

That is odd because I used my outback gift card a few weeks ago and they included the tip on there.
I always include the tip on my applesbees gift cards too.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

A gift card that doesn't allow you to purchase alcohol in a restaurant where it is offered? That's too weird.

 

[taylor1293]

To the OP: A gift card purchased with cash/credit should have no restrictions at all (except for not being redeemed for cash!)

check the fine print on the gift card. I'm looking at an Outback one right now and it says "no" for tip and alchololic beverages.

I have two Outback cards and neither say that on them. I think the only time a gift card will say "not for tip or alcoholic beverage" is when it was not purchased with cash/credit because it was given as a gift by the company or purchased using a discount. I have had some of those in the past and they have had restrictions.