Just wanted to add my own thoughts here - IcyDog pointed this thread out on the DVC board.
It is not customary to ever add a service charge except in the case of a large party. However, having waited tables throughout grad school, I can tell you, it is a major frustration to have customers who were unfamiliar with tipping practice. Waitstaff make almost nothing - they are paid almost entirely by tips in the US. This is not the case in most European countries. I was in New York City when I was waiting tables, so we had a LOT of international traffic, and it would be very frustrating to wait on a table who were perhaps wonderful, and would have gladly tipped correctly if they had known, but then not receive any tip or a 3% tip or something. So I can understand WHY it might happen, but I always thought it was insulting to the customer, and so was never comfortable doing it. There is no other way to tell them, though, unless as IcyDog said, they publish schedules or print it in the menu. I think the restaurants need to take the responsibility for this, but still, any way you do it, you are likely to offend someone. I am also sure this is a bigger problem in Orlando than it is in other parts of the country, because it would also have a lot of international tourism.
I will also say that the tips for table service in larger metro areas tend to be higher - if I had received a 15% tip, I would have assumed that the customer had not felt my service was very good - maybe not bad, but not good either. 10% would be pretty insulting (again, I don't think this is true more rural areas of the US). 20% was much more customary. But I would have also thought 15% was a very good tip from a European. And I understand that there would be real sticker shock (shock at the final price) if you weren't used to tipping. It is also frustrating if you receive poor service, and know that if you tip poorly, they will likely assume it was because you didn't know how much to tip instead of because of their poor service.
On the other side, I've had the reverse happen to me in several countries in Europe. I have had many, many waitstaff be somewhat upset with me because I knew the tipping practices in the area and tipped accordingly. When they heard MY accent, they expected a giant tip, and weren't very happy about not getting an "American" tip.
It is not customary to ever add a service charge except in the case of a large party. However, having waited tables throughout grad school, I can tell you, it is a major frustration to have customers who were unfamiliar with tipping practice. Waitstaff make almost nothing - they are paid almost entirely by tips in the US. This is not the case in most European countries. I was in New York City when I was waiting tables, so we had a LOT of international traffic, and it would be very frustrating to wait on a table who were perhaps wonderful, and would have gladly tipped correctly if they had known, but then not receive any tip or a 3% tip or something. So I can understand WHY it might happen, but I always thought it was insulting to the customer, and so was never comfortable doing it. There is no other way to tell them, though, unless as IcyDog said, they publish schedules or print it in the menu. I think the restaurants need to take the responsibility for this, but still, any way you do it, you are likely to offend someone. I am also sure this is a bigger problem in Orlando than it is in other parts of the country, because it would also have a lot of international tourism.
I will also say that the tips for table service in larger metro areas tend to be higher - if I had received a 15% tip, I would have assumed that the customer had not felt my service was very good - maybe not bad, but not good either. 10% would be pretty insulting (again, I don't think this is true more rural areas of the US). 20% was much more customary. But I would have also thought 15% was a very good tip from a European. And I understand that there would be real sticker shock (shock at the final price) if you weren't used to tipping. It is also frustrating if you receive poor service, and know that if you tip poorly, they will likely assume it was because you didn't know how much to tip instead of because of their poor service.
On the other side, I've had the reverse happen to me in several countries in Europe. I have had many, many waitstaff be somewhat upset with me because I knew the tipping practices in the area and tipped accordingly. When they heard MY accent, they expected a giant tip, and weren't very happy about not getting an "American" tip.
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