Do you tip on to-go orders at restaurants?

redblue22 said:

10% is an insult to your wait staff. 15% is normal. Over that is a compliment. One dollar is normal minimum, so don't dig out 15% of your drink price. If you get a deal or coupon, you pay the 15% of the price without the deal or coupon.

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Oh really? Lol I felt so generous for giving so much.

Forever trying said:

Oh man, don't make this tipping thing more complicated for me. I'm visiting the US in July, and I've already been overthinking this whole tipping thing you guys do haha

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It's really simple: Tip waiters a minimum of 15%. The rest is actually fairly optional.

Sketcher said:

I don't believe I've been to a restaurant that offers to-go food where tips are expected. I tip waiters, waitresses, and delivery people. None of them are involved in to-go orders.

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Same. I tip for delivery and I tip for table service, though I've been outside of the US for 5 months so I haven't had to tip at all.

No. Tipping is mostly frowned upon here.

Forever trying said:

Oh man, don't make this tipping thing more complicated for me. I'm visiting the US in July, and I've already been overthinking this whole tipping thing you guys do haha

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Don't overthink, just remember this. If you tip big or small, it's your business and staff expect to have customers in both camps.

If you want to hit what is usual or expected, tip approximately 18%. That's a figure often used by restaurants that make a suggestion on the check about tipping. So 15 to 20%, depending on how much the waiter did for you, and exclusive of the taxes added. That's for sitdown restaurants.

Albion said:

If you want to hit what is usual or expected, tip approximately 18%, depending on how attentive the waiter was.

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See, that's what I find bizarre. They should give 110% whether they get 18%, 10% or 0%. If they don't like their job then they're welcome to leave.

Patrick Bateman said:

See, that's what I find bizarre. They should give 110% whether they get 18%, 10% or 0%. If they don't like their job then they're welcome to leave.

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You mean the waiter should give 110% in effort, I think. Certainly, but they do vary and that's the idea behind tipping--to reward extra effort which is not always just a matter of hard work. I have tipped bigger when the waiter made the effort to adjust the order according to my likes and dislikes by suggesting another way to order it, checked into our table several times during the meal, gave good advice about which entrée was sweetest or something else I cared about, or offered a free sample, a box to take home an uneaten dessert, etc. or even responded helpfully when I asked non-food questions such as about a city I was then visiting.

cold dark air blows through.

Albion said:

to reward extra effort which is not always just a matter of hard work.

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I get that, but I don't see why I should reward them for doing their job.

Patrick Bateman said:

I get that, but I don't see why I should reward them for doing their job.

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I guess it's for one of two reasons. 1. Some go above and beyond what would reasonably be called their duties. 2. Some others are definitely not doing what they should and do not deserve all that is usual (low salary supplemented by a certain amount of anticipated tips). The tipping tradition gives the customer some ability to adjust, if marginally, the waiter's compensation in accordance with his or her quality.

Albion said:

2. Some others are definitely not doing what they should

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See, if that was me, I'd complain to their manager if it was poor service, not reward them slightly less.

Just seems bizarre. Aren't you from Australia or am I thinking of Ebia? I didn't think tipping was customary there.

I don't know if I would dare to be a regular repeat customer and never give a tip.

Patrick Bateman said:

See, if that was me, I'd complain to their manager if it was poor service, not reward them slightly less.

Just seems bizarre. Aren't you from Australia or am I thinking of Ebia? I didn't think tipping was customary there.

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You're thinking of Ebia. But on the tipping business, what you suggest poses some problems IMO. For one, I'd only report to the manager if the waiter was really awful, insulting, dangerous, or the like. What do I do with ones who are merely a little below what you'd consider average? I don't want to cost them their jobs and I don't want to be reporting to the manager every time service in a restaurant is not what I should expect. So 10% instead of 20, and maybe they'll get the message.

If I have to go in and pick up an order I don't tip, but if it is delivered I do.

it depends on the place. I wouldn't tip McD's. But if it is a restaurant pick up I probably would. brew always.

I've been hit hard by obamanomics, of course I won't tip on to go orders.

Welcome to leave your job? What are you on, Lifestyles of the Rich and Insensitive?

I am hit wonderfully by Obama, so of course I won't spend it on restaurants anyway.

Are you meant to leave a tip, if it is take away? I just spent, the past year in America, and I never left a tip for take away. I didn't think you were supposed to? I thought it was only for sit-down meals, where you are served? Now I'm wondering if they all thought I was rude.

Blue Wren said:

Are you meant to leave a tip, if it is take away? I just spent, the past year in America, and I never left a tip for take away. I didn't think you were supposed to? I thought it was only for sit-down meals, where you are served? Now I'm wondering if they all thought I was rude.

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Lol when I read this thread I feel the same. 10% if the service was bad.... oops.

Messy said:

Lol when I read this thread I feel the same. 10% if the service was bad.... oops.

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It's interesting how different the perspectives are. It's just bizarre to me that a tip is almost viewed as an expected part of visiting a restaurant, I know now why that is but coming from my background it just feels odd that tips should make up the shortfall in wages.

Bad service, no tip. The service you would normally expect, no tip. Good/outstanding service, a tip. It's always been that a tip was a reward for service beyond normal expectations. Now I feel like a completely uneducated European .

In terms of to-go orders I have left a tip when it's obvious they're still doing their very best despite the circumstances being less than ideal, but it's very rare.