So what do you do for tipping when you don't order very much, such as when sharing meals?
Yesterday for my birthday lunch, after spending several hours at Flower World, we went to a diner-style restaurant and paid cash. None of the places that I had gift cards to were even remotely nearby, and the market on property didn't have anything with which to build a lunch. I had actually heard about this diner before and thought this would be as good as any time to check it out.
Neither my husband nor I eat a lot at lunch, and neither do our daughters. In eyeing other diner's portions, it was clear we would only eat half of what what served. I know, some folks like taking leftovers home for additional meals. We don't really like to do that. I make plenty of leftovers from my own kitchen, and I don't like to pay restaurant prices for leftovers.
So my husband and I shared a sandwich meal along with a side of fruit, and my daughters shared a meal between themselves (they still needed to ask for to-go boxes, even with splitting).
I know this must be a bit of a disappointment to the server when a table doesn't order very much, hence don't spend much on which to base tipping. To our server's credit, she immediately said she'd bring extra plates. We decided to tip more generously than we otherwise would. We tipped just about 15% on what would have been the amount if we all ordered something. Although, if we'd all ordered something, we might have ordered less expensive (and smaller) meals for each of us. For us, this felt like the right thing to do. It wasn't a huge tip, but then she didn't have to do much extra work for us.
How do you handle tipping when you share a meal? Do you think patrons ought to tip based on what was actually spent, or on what might have been spent? Or do you think the tip should be somewhere in between?
By the way, the sandwich was tasty. We shared a turkey club sandwich on their diner-made bread and a fruit cup on the side. It was the right amount for my husband and myself.
That was a fair way to do the tip and I'm sure that your server appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteI hope so. We really didn't know what would be best, so we just figured this would best suit the circumstances.
We tip 20% unless the server went out of their way then 25%. If we shared a lunch I wouldn't have had lunch.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing what you do, Cheryl. It's helpful to hear from others on topics like this.
DeleteI like that you adjusted your tip for the server. Generally I tip the way that Cheryl does, and we don't typically split plates, but if I only get a beverage when going out with others, then I increase my tip to offset the server's anticipated reduction in tips.
ReplyDeleteHi Kris,
DeleteI think I feel bad for the server, and don't want them to feel disappointed. But honestly, I don't know what would've been the best way to handle the tip under our circumstances. Thanks for sharing how you handle it.
We make it a game and interact with our servers and we always tip generously. They are people who often earn less hourly pay and depend on tips. If a server is rude, unfriendly and detached we will adjust our tip but we always tip something. Sometimes we add a little surprise that leaves them speechless when they unroll what we squeezed into their hand. And we always hand our server the tip and never leave it on the table nor as part of the bill. Always cash handed to the person. Sometimes they come back and say that the baby just outgrew some clothing and wasn't sure how they could afford a larger clothes item but with the tip that was now possible. Other time, they come back just to say "thank you". We don't eat out often but when we do, we remember our servers.
ReplyDeleteAlice
Hi Alice,
Deletethank you for giving me such a detailed picture of how you handle tipping. I love that you personally hand your tip to the servers. I've always left cash on the table, even if I pay by card for the meal.
We don't usually share meals but if one of us has a free meal (birthday reward or other loyalty point reward, for instance), we do still tip on what the bill would have been including the price of that meal, typically 20% but higher for excellent service.
ReplyDeleteHi Cat,
DeleteThank you for sharing how you handle tipping. It's helpful for me to read what others do.