Tipping at resturants

[Lumpy1106]

I paid my way through college working in restaurants so I have a real problem with bad service. The job is really not that hard. The most tactful way to improve your service on the spot is to have a quick chat with your server and first ask who the manager is. Tell them you don't need to speak to the manager yet, but, and then tell them what you are unhappy with - give them a chance to fix it. If the service doesn't immediately improve, now you have the manager's name - seek them out and tell them you gave the server a chance to fix things and it didn't happen. Above all, be polite, don't make demands and keep your cool. Chances are good you will come out ahead if you do that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Wow. I am confused. How is confirming the actual issue, then agreeing with it, "offensive and ruse"?

 

[sponica]

I paid my way through college working in restaurants so I have a real problem with bad service. The job is really not that hard. The most tactful way to improve your service on the spot is to have a quick chat with your server and first ask who the manager is. Tell them you don't need to speak to the manager yet, but, and then tell them what you are unhappy with - give them a chance to fix it. If the service doesn't immediately improve, now you have the manager's name - seek them out and tell them you gave the server a chance to fix things and it didn't happen. Above all, be polite, don't make demands and keep your cool. Chances are good you will come out ahead if you do that.

I never worked in food service, but I worked in retail and at the movie theater most of my young adulthood. Seriously, if you're not a jerk, you can get just about anything comped/fixed/returned/remediated. You leave happy, my day stays easy. Win win.

 

[Nancyg56]

The sad truth is that MANY times the server will become the focal point when a patron wants to "punish" the restaurant for a poor experience. Because that is an area where the patron can exert some control, they do so. This means that if the kitchen does something wrong, or if the patron had an issue with getting their table (long wait, table not where they prefer, etc) or if a drink was made incorrectly, the server is "punished" with a poor tip. The server is the ONLY person in that scenario not making full minimum wage. Obviously not everyone does this, but it's far too common. If your SERVER caused your problems....absolutely 100% of the time speak to a manager and tip reflective of that. If it was the kitchen, the host, the bartender or even the manager...the restaurant does NOT suffer when you short-tip your server, only the server does.

In some states bartenders are paid a reduced rate of pay if they are in a tipped position.

NO ONE gets paid under minimum wage. Servers are paid a reduced rate. however their rate after their shift (at least in MA) needs to equal at least minimum wage. This is new as of January 2019, servers needed to meet minimum after their week.

 

[siren0119]

In some states bartenders are paid a reduced rate of pay if they are in a tipped position.

NO ONE gets paid under minimum wage. Servers are paid a reduced rate. however their rate after their shift (at least in MA) needs to equal at least minimum wage. This is new as of January 2019, servers needed to meet minimum after their week.

LOL I know. Not only do I live in MA, my husband has worked in restaurant for 20 years. Has a serving shift tonight, in fact. However, it's the PRINCIPLE of "punishing" the server for issues that much of the time isn't something they can control, that I take issue with. It doesn't solve the problem, nor does it hurt the restaurant in ANY way to leave a crappy tip. the ONLY person it hurts is the server.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Personal tipping habits is not a topic for discussion. There is a sticky for mechanics of tipping
Thank you!