03/05/2026
I tip based on the following in order of importance:
1. Time spent at the table
2. Number of people at the table
3. Attitude of server (I tip more if they seem to be in a bad mood. Everyone is allowed to have a bad day)
4. Amount of the total check
If I spend two to three hours at a table, I tip more. Servers make money by flipping tables. If I take up the amount of time that three tables would take up, I make sure their time is covered.
If I go out to eat alone, the total amount of time spent at my table is usually about 8-10 minutes. If I go out to eat with family and friends (8-12 people), the server spends more time at our table refilling drinks, bringing appetizers as well as desserts and mains, refilling bread, chit chatting.
I will ALWAYS tip more if the server is rude or in a bad mood. It turns their whole day around and makes things better for the next person. I've worked in the service industry and though I am able to regulate my emotions in the workplace, not everyone can. I don't claim to know what is going on in your personal life, but I know a few extra dollars when you have bills to pay can make a huge difference.
Lastly, my baseline is and always has been 20%. For those who don't know, it's super simple to calculate. Ex. Total bill: $120.00. Move the decimal over one place ($12.000) and times by two.
If you would like things to change and restaurants to do away with tipping, I implore you to ask for a manager or see if the owner is available. Leave a letter or a review. Ask why they refuse to pay their servers a living wage instead of asking customers for tips. What you don't do is punish the employees who literally have nothing to do with how the restaurant is run. Be the change or go with the flow.
