Tipping in restaurants - what's your criteria?

We leave 10% in this country and whatever's the norm when abroad, and I don't think a 20 minute wait is bad. It's the restaurants with the huge menus that can get your meals out in 3 or 4 minutes you've to worry about! We only once left without tipping - the owner was "serving" us and some of his friends were in. He barely glanced our way whenever he had to leave their table, just plonked our plates down and scurried back to join in the conversation.

As for cruises, I agree that the tipping system can mean a significant sum to pay at the end, but if it was done away with it'd just have to be charged upfront as part of the holiday cost. This would be preferable imho, as some people queue up on the last evening to have the charge taken off. I'm happy that it's shared between everyone. They all work very hard for very low wages, whether they're front of house or behind the scenes washing the bedding.

Oh I agree totally with you kim I never make a fuss if I m with a group just go with the flow and would not say anything to upset the others after all it’s my personal feelings

I make sure they know I'm paying my share of the tip under duress as its a group outing.
It's a ridiculous and outdated system,

20 min wait isn't long. Were there more than 4 of you in the group, was the restaurant very busy, were the courses individually made or were they the "bought in" variety. Christmas Grump by the sound of it!

I find tipping uncomfortable. I would rather prices were higher and decide from there whether I want to eat out.

JulieM. You don't have to pay all the tipping charges on a cruise ship. Just pay what you think they deserve.

On several occasions on cruises, I've simply gone to accounts/purser and asked them to remove the tip element from my final account. Done without fuss or recrimination.

Question, please, to those of you who say you don't tip. Do you actually ask for the service charge to be removed from the bill once it has been presented?

Your waiter has no control over the chef of the kitchen. If he/she was good then why not tip her for something out of their control. Sounds like an arsehole to me.

Soda pop
I suggest you stay in then

Just who the fuck do you think you are. You obviously have never eaten in good places.

We’ve just come in from Sunday lunch and tipped 10% the service was good mind.

Menopauselbitch, there's absolutely no need whatsoever to be so rude!

Well, she is menopausal (I assume).

We always tip in cash direct to the waiter/ess, to ensure that the tips do not get 'lost' in the employers accounts.

I would rather see the old-fashioned tronc. the success of ameal is not just the waiter but all those behind the scenes cooking preparing and clearing up and they should get an equal share of the tips.

I am happy to tip, and will tip generously if the service has been good etc, however I am not comfortable with being presented with the card machine that gives me a choice of tapping either Yes or No to have the tip added on. It’s embarrassing and I couldn’t bring myself to actually tap No even if the service was bad.

10% if a service charge hasn't been added to the bill and always leave in cash rather than add it to a card payment as not all restaurants pass it on to the staff

Yes, I too hate those machines that present you with the option of tipping or not tipping, but I do take great delight in loudly asking where the button is for 'no'.

I try not to tip wherever possible.

Kim19 I did on one occasion ask for the 10% service charge to be removed from the bill. It did say it was optional, so I opted.

Sorry you are suffering such irritability menopausalbitch , I'm so glad I'm over those symptoms.
Yes I do ask for the service charge to be removed, its not done so much here in rural France.

No tipping here in Australia. On cruises I ask for the service charge to be removed from my account and then leave tips to who I think deserves it.

We always give a small tip. Tipping is very often how staff make up their wages, and if the service is good and with a smile, why not? If the service was poor overall then we would not tip. I do get annoyed when there is provision for making a gratuity payment at the point of card payment!

And whilst the tipping system stays in place hospitality staff will continue to be poorly paid
Shropshirelass

It’s very different on cruises. Because most of the staff are from poor countries like the Philippines and Africa and the ships are registered in Malta, they can get away without paying any kind if minimum wage. British and American staff are pay a much higher rate than the rest. There is than a (lower)archy according to which country the workers come from. Many work 12 or 14 hour days 7 days a week, with just one day off every few weeks. They are paid obscenely low wages and rely on tips to make their work worthwhile. If you only tip those you feel are worth it, you miss those paid the least, but whose work is crucial for the enjoyment of your cruise, the cleaners, kitchen staff, laundry staff etc.

The money you take from them by removing your tips will not lead to the cruise companies paying better wages because they can get away with not doing so. Therefore, although we don’t tip in restaurants here or in the rest of Europe, we would never remove our tips on a cruise. We simply consider them part of the cost.

Tipping does not form part of the staffs basic wage here like it does abroad so it isnt necessary.

Group bookings and larger tables usually have a service charge added to the bill so I wouldnt tip above that unless the service was great.

For a smaller table of 2-4 people I usually tip 10-15% if the bill was more than £50 the service was okay. I wouldnt tip for a quick cheap lunch

Re a 20 min wait, I HATE dining with people who expect fast food service at non fast foot restraunts! The time between courses is the time to chat, order another bottle of wine etc. Not to whinge that your food wasnt instant.

I’d be unhappy if my food came to quickly as it would mean it must have been microwaved!