How To Tip At Restaurant

Have you ever wondered how to tip at restaurant? Giving a tip is no one's favorite thing to do unless you were celebrities like Matt Damon (He tipped $400)... Often times, people worry about giving too much or too little. It's not that difficult to calculate it. I hate to see it when my rich dates took time to figure it out.... :(
Of course, it is easy when the restaurant automatically puts the tip on the credit card along with the bill. Going to such places can be annoying sometimes - because the service can be poor or just OK but the server still gets a tip anyway...

In Japan, there's NO custom of tipping. Although I've been in the restaurant industry, I had to learn how to tip at restaurant here. When I worked at a world-known restaurant in Japan, I got tips sometimes. Just because many of their customers were foreigners - all the workers were required to speak English. You'll get good services with smiles anywhere pretty much without a tip.

I do think some genius created this amazing custom - shifting restaurant owners' obligation to pay their labor cost to customers... Customers feel or do obligated to give tips to the servers just because they knew the facts and had a compassion - servers only earn minimum wage or less than that and "customers" were the ones who can compensate for their living cost.... What a genius idea it is. (Of course, from the restaurant owner's point of view) I personally think that feeling obligated to give a tip even if you got some crappy service is not right. You are then sending them a message that giving our poor services is OK. The servers forget something occasionally. A polite reminder is the best way to get the best service.
Since I've worked in the restaurant industry, I can get into this topic deeper than ordinary customers like you.

Tipping reveals a human ego and its harsh reality. Once people become the patrons of the restaurant, they feel and act as if they became a KING or GOD.... It's very embarrassing to see those cheap and shameless customers who complains loudly in front of all the strangers at the establishment... "Customers" feel entitled to CONTROL their power to decide whether if the server deserves their hard earned money as his/her reward or not...

I personally leave a tip no matter how good or bad the service is. However, when you get really bad service and the server doesn't do much to try to alleviate the situation, then "sometimes" it is OK not to give a tip. Let me explain this from server's stand point. Things go wrong sometimes - mistake happens. I want you to realize not all errors are the fault of a server. For example, if your steak is not cooked right, do not take it out on the server's tip - the server can't cook nor see how it is cooked until you cut it. All the server can do to fix the problem is to get you a new one cooked properly. Also, servers don't control prices nor anything about preparation - cooking times, running out of things etc. Any of those problems can be addressed with a manager and you may be compensated by them for your troubles, not by cutting server's tips.

Because of my restaurant working experience, I'm a relatively good tipper. I don't ask much and give 20 % tip at least. All I want is to get the food in timely manner and to get my drink refilled. I wanna enjoy the time with my company. I don't go to restaurant to enjoy conversation with the workers. I rather be left alone than being given too much attention. How easy is that????  Compared with that, I worked so much harder to give amazing restaurant experiences for my customers and did feel I deserved a tip as my reward. Some restaurant patrons find every excuse to shortchange wait staff. The servers work hard for a living. Be generous to them. Restaurant work is demanding and GRUELING. The bottom line is that what we tip should be commensurate to the quality of the service we receive. 20 % should be the standard, in my opinion. Don't be so cheap. If you can't afford it, don't go out for a restaurant.

I understand that there are several different types of establishments, and that it is difficult to know how much to tip. So here is my advice for how to determine that. Pay based on what you are getting. 

Cafe, Buffet (Self-Serve), and Fast Food Restaurants      

No tip is required. If you are at a buffet where someone just brings you a drink and then leaves you alone, maybe give them a couple of dollars. Some places may have a tip jar. It is your choice to put any money in the tip jar, even if it is just the extra change you have. If you got really good service from the staff, why not?

Pizza Delivery                            The delivery person - 5 ~ 10 % (at least $1) 

Restaurants (Casual)                15 ~ 20% of the bill post-tax (I THINK 20% should be the standard!!)

Restaurant (Fine dining)           15 ~ 20% of the bill post-tax

       - The parking attendant                $1 to $3

       - The coat-room attendant           $1 per coat

       - The restroom attending              $0.50 to $1

       - The wine steward                      10% of the wine bill post taxes

       - The wait staff                            15% to 20% of the food bill post tax

Tip 1   Tipping should always be based on the post-tax amount of the bill because servers sometimes have to pay taxes on the tips that they receive.

Tip 2   Tip with CASH is the best for the servers.

Tip 3   Usually there is a certain tip percentage for busser. Busser deserves the tip more than the server will give, tip   him/her directly into the hand. If you tip them upfront, they'll work their asses off for you while your dining.

Tip 4   If you're a regular customer at the restaurant and there's a good waitress who usually helps you, tip her better because she will give better service to a loyal customer that she remembers rather than just someone who came in once.

Tip 5   You occasionally see the restaurant suggesting the tip percentage. Don't feel pressured to tip more - it's your choice! 

Tip 6   Leaving a server more than 18%, if you :
- staying at your table for a full hour after your meal is completed. The servers are essentially per table, and committing such an action is basically depriving the person that has catered to your every whim of an hour's wage.
- completely trash the table with your kids. Try watching someone destroy something that takes you an hour to get clean.

Are these tips helpful for how to tip at restaurant? I hope so :D