Tipping?

We drove the half mile to a Spa on the bay, where they served a French buffet. We sat outside enjoying the wonderful weather, and a delicious leek and potato soup. The waitress brought my Beck's and my son's burger, while Julie and I helped ourselves to muscles, filet's and some of the best scalloped potatoes that I've ever tried. Ah, and desserts.

Of course the check came and it was large as expected, but how much do I tip the waitress? I almost always tip 20%, but in this case, we did half the work … 10% ? That just seems wrong. OK, how about 20% on the non-buffet items? No, that comes out to less than 10%. "Don't tip too low," Julie replied, "we'll be coming back." I settled on 15%. It wasn't the full 20, but also not insulting.

How much should one pay when half of the meal is from a buffet?

Comments

[willi]

I usually tip 15-20% regardless of restaurant style.
If the service is crappy I drop to 10%

w
My favorite tip: Take all the wooden nickels you can get ... the lumber's worth 7 cents!

[Philip]

Doesn't matter if it's buffet. They're still getting 2.01 an hour (or whatever it is in your state) and need money to support themselves and family. I tip large unless it's crappy service, then I tip 15% to the penny and ask to talk to a manager.

[Beth]

If the service is good, I usually tip 15-20% also,regardless of restaurant style. If the service is poor, I give 10% or less. I used to wait tables!

[hula doula]

As a rule of thumb I tip well. Normally at least 20%. Buffet to me is no different. They still have to come the millions of times you fill up your plate and you have to get a new one.
Now I have been known to leave nothing. But that was in Europe and very difficult for me to do.
The smallest tip I ever left was 1%. I was with my children. The waiter brought our drinks and then I overheard a comment he made about me. His exact words were that my fat ass didn't need the bun. I don't have a fat ass #1. (the comment was about ordering a Diet Coke and then a hamburger without bread...etc because I was and still am dieting) He saw me directly after he made it. He knew. I put a note on the check that said, "This would have been your tip. Thank you so much for bringing our drinks but I thank you to keep your comments to yourself especially around my children because they would not understand!"

[Rob]

I think we are forgetting that tip is earned. It is not an automatic fee for the waiters just doing their job.

Their choosen profeshion is their choice. you dont see garbage sweepers getting tips or bus drivers or teachers or the man that cuts your lawn. They have a set wage first off. If the server is great. Ok i'll tip 20% but if everything was crap and service is shitty, i'll tip nothing out of principle. You people are getting the concept wrong. It is their JOB to stand there and server you. THey get paid for it. TIP is soemthing that is earn and not the automatic 10% "thank you for doing nothing" fee. This is why people in american work less and less and expect more for less.

If they need $ to support families then can get a education or buy less material goods or get a better job. "15% to the penny and talk to the mananger" You idiot. Your just encouraging that kind of service to the next customer. Very soon they will expect a 15% tip for no service at all. If i was the server i would laugh u all the way out of the restrautant and treat you like sh*t agian the next time u waltz in and explect that 15% tip cause your such a pussy and wont stand up to your own convections.

Idiot. Once again. Tip is earned not taken for granted. I work harder then these people... do i cry about not getting a tip? On the other hand i get a good 6 figure income working for myself and know what hard work gets you.

I'll only tip when it is earned.

[Judith]

We rarely tip here in Aus, but that is simply because the wages for waitressing are pretty decent. 10 years ago I was getting $13-$15 per hour for waitressing.
Also with buffet here (especially at sizzlers) we don't tip because we pay before we go in.