Tips for tips: advice on being a server

[Suntan Superman]

I skipped over everything after the tax talk break out. But I really want to mention something, never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever leave the check on the table face up. Its tacky, and I hate it. If you do that, not only will I NOT tip your table, I will also make sure your manager/supervisor know why I didn't tip your table. It seems small, but seriously, just don't do it, ever.

[Beantown]

I skipped over everything after the tax talk break out. But I really want to mention something, never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever leave the check on the table face up. Its tacky, and I hate it. If you do that, not only will I NOT tip your table, I will also make sure your manager/supervisor know why I didn't tip your table. It seems small, but seriously, just don't do it, ever.

That's why we, and most corporate restaurants, use the books to keep the checks hidden until the payer wants to see it.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I don't see what the big deal is.........I mean by having it flipped over or covered up, do you think it is going to magically make the price of the bill go down or something ?

[Suntan Superman]

Its common courtesy(I know that kind of stuff is becoming less and less common these days). No one else needs to see the bill aside from the person paying it. Simple as.

[55]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

So if I got to a place and get a $25 steak I should tip more than if I got a $10 burger, even though the service is the same? Why should I tip more because the food cost more?

I go in with an amount in going to tip and it increases or decrease on the service I get.

If you have the ability to spend $25 on an entree then you have the ability to leave a fair tip.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

If you have the ability to spend $25 on an entree then you have the ability to leave a fair tip.

Don't make me break out my math again. Even if a server gets $2 a table on 5 tables over an hour they are making more then most college students working lame *** jobs.

Servers need to go work retail and make minimum wage then see how much they bitch about a $5-$10 tip is a "bad table."

[chilli311]

Who says we haven't?

through music you can live forever

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

A good tip I haven't seen mentioned (doesn't bother me but I have seen others who seem to get offended by it), when you go to pick up the check and someone is paying don't ask them do you need any change, just say I'll be right back with your change, if they want you to keep it they'll just tell you not to worry about it when you tell them you'll be right back with it.

[Stu]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Don't make me break out my math again. Even if a server gets $2 a table on 5 tables over an hour they are making more then most college students working lame *** jobs.

Servers need to go work retail and make minimum wage then see how much they bitch about a $5-$10 tip is a "bad table."

Your math is flawed because it assumes servers are going to have a certain number of tables per hour for every hour they're working. A full time server will work a lot of shifts where they don't have 5 tables an hour. I ate at a restaurant last night and there were 2 servers and each only had 1 table in the hour plus I was there.

[slickdtc]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Yup, check face down (I've folded mine in half), but we also have a survey we have to encourage people to take on ours, so I have to show them that. I've also been told just grab the change instead of asking if they need it.

Yeah.. you can't count on tables per hour. Especially when a lot of restaurants max you out at 3 or 4 tables at a time, and a meal is usually about an hour. It's literally impossible to have 5 tables an hour at those type of restaurants.

I've found what really makes stuff crazy in an instant is the AMOUNT of people at a table, and the amount of tables (and how quickly/closely together they've been sat). 1 table is easy... even 2 is fine. But you get that 3rd table, and it starts to get crazy. You have to be a really good time manager, and have a good memory. Someone asks for that odd request, like a to-go cup, or an extra cup of sauce... and you completely forgot. I like to think I'm good with the small details, but I found myself forgetting those things when you get sidetracked with other tables as well as what there's to do in the kitchen (watch your food, watch others, side work, running others food, etc).

It's definitely not just taking down orders and bringing out food.

[Suntan Superman]

A lot of what I tip comes from just common courtesy, the more I think about it. Being polite, look presentable, don't reach across the table, please, thank you, sir, ma'am, things like that go a looooooooong way

[55]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

A good tip I haven't seen mentioned (doesn't bother me but I have seen others who seem to get offended by it), when you go to pick up the check and someone is paying don't ask them do you need any change, just say I'll be right back with your change, if they want you to keep it they'll just tell you not to worry about it when you tell them you'll be right back with it.

I always include my tip along with the bill and say, "Keep the change." Like, if my bill is $30 I will just put two 20 dollar bills in the book, give the book to the server and bounce. It just speeds up the exit process.

[C the Lyte]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I always include my tip along with the bill and say, "Keep the change." Like, if my bill is $30 I will just put two 20 dollar bills in the book, give the book to the server and bounce. It just speeds up the exit process.

+30% tip!!! Wow, you are awesome!!!

[55]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

+30% tip!!! Wow, you are awesome!!!

I generally tip about a third of the bill in the places where I am a regular.

[chilli311]

I generally tip about a third of the bill in the places where I am a regular.

That's the way to go. I made friends with a bartender at the bar I went to in my mid 20s. Got to the point where I never paid when i went there, no matter what I got because he knew he'd be getting $20 at least from me regardless of how long I stayed.

through music, you can live forever...