Tipping at Buffets...How Much Do You Give?

[DisneyFan32WI]

We will be eating at Boma and 1900 Park Far this week. How much is a normal tip at a BUFFET?

Thanks!

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I forgot to mention we are a family of 4. 2 adults, 2 kids. (Although the kids are 11 & 14 so they pay the adult price)

 

[OhThePain]

As a general rule of thumb, I tip about 20% of the total before tax whenever I go out to eat. For a buffet if the waiter/waitress is on top of things (clearing plates quickly, refilling drinks quickly) they might get a little more. If they are slow with things they might get less.

 

[bangzoom6877]

On your receipt, there wll be suggested amount for tipping, based on percentage of the bill. I know one of the percentages they give is 18%. DH and I usually tip 20% for excellent service, which we did at Boma since we had a wonderful waitress. There was never one plate left on our table for more than a couple of minutes, drinks were automatically refilled for us, she checked on our boys to see how they liked everything, and she was very sweet to our boys and also to us of course. The service at Crystal Palace dinner buffet was lacking (worst service of our trip)...the waiter never cleared our plates and they piled up, we had to hunt him down for a drink refill, no smile at all on his face during the whole dinner, seemed bothered whenever we asked for something (which was not often at all...referring mainly to a drink refill). We tipped him 15%. Most people I know (who are not bad tippers) would not have tipped this guy more than 10%, if even that. What can I say? We tend to overtip...both DH and I have worked as servers before and we understand they live off their tips.

We also tipped 20% at Biergarten...that was the second best service of our trip!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I tip the same at buffets as I do for any table service restaurant, about 20%.

 

[rugrats2001]

We will be eating at Boma and 1900 Park Far this week. How much is a normal tip at a BUFFET?

Thanks!

This is for service at a buffet, in my experience:

'Regular' people tip an average of about 10-12% at buffets with decent to good service .

'Cheapskates' usually don't tip at all at buffets, often leave a huge mess, and may leave a dollar or two tip for the whole table .

'People who remember how hard it was when THEY used to wait tables/bartend/cut hair/valet park/(insert any other tipped position here)' tip 20% or more as long as the staff doesn't spill a drink on them, and up to 30% if the server mentions having kids/medical expenses/educational expenses/uniform expenses or is tired or cranky from other customer's mistreatment .

If service is -=AMAZING=-, like it was at Boma the first time we went, just follow your heart... The waiter spent more QUALITY time with us than any waiter at a full service restaurant, and was compensated accordingly!

 

[pumba]

we have a tipping sticking post at the top of this page.....so I will close this one and direct you to that post.......

Thank you