Going Out for a Meal - The Awkward Moment When Someone Says...

krlyr

poet123 wrote: »

So, you don't add in a tip ( obviously assuming the service has been good) when totting up what you owe? How is that fair to the rest of the party (unless no one leaves a tip?)

We only tip for good service and always in cash even if paying by card so that we can be sure the tip is going to the wating staff not the management. Three of us once left a tip of 3p at the Ivy in London because the service had been so appalling and we wanted to make a point.

They could just add in their own tip (so that £17 included ~£15.50 of food + 10% tip) or leave no tip if desired and let the remainder of the party decide what time they want to leave. Maybe they'll work out the total bill minus the £17 of food and tip 10% of that figure - there's no law to say they MUST tip 10% of the whole total.
Depending on who I was with, I'd either leave 10% of my portion or pay £x for the food/drinks I had then chip in my share of the overall 10% tip, but that's me personally.

BugglyB

I tip because I was a waitress and a bartender for ten years and I know what its like. Minimum wage, rude customers, horrible managers, leery chefs, awful hours. If someone can muster a smile through all that they deserve my loose change.

BugglyB

Derivative wrote: »

I just pay for my own regardless of whether someone's said "shall we split the bill".

Makes no difference. If I've spent £17 and I put in £17, then the rest of the group is still splitting the bill.

I never tip at restaurants and I always tot up the value of my food as I order it, so that's not an issue.

I don't really see the difficulty, if I spent £x, £x comes out of my wallet. If someone else mentioned anything, I'd just politely tell them that I've put in the correct amount for my meal.

Always bring change to restaurants. Always.

That last bit makes you sound like Alan Partridge.

'I've got a scam going with a big plate' :rotfl:

euronorris

BugglyB wrote: »

I tip because I was a waitress and a bartender for ten years and I know what its like. Minimum wage, rude customers, horrible managers, leery chefs, awful hours. If someone can muster a smile through all that they deserve my loose change.

Sorry, but this just isn't enough for me to tip someone. There are sooooo many people who work for MW, with rude customers, horrible managers, leery colleagues & awful hours, and no one tips them whether they smile, or not. So, for me, it has to be more than a smile.

adouglasmhor

euronorris wrote: »

Sorry, but this just isn't enough for me to tip someone. They are sooooo many people who work for MW, with rude customers, horrible managers, leery colleagues & awful hours, and no one tips them whether they smile, or not. So, for me, it has to be more than a smile.

Living in the NL has spoiled you :rotfl:

euronorris

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Living in the NL has spoiled you :rotfl:

Not at all. I rarely go out, as I'm on a strict budget (gotta get rid of this debt!).

So, the majority of meals out are had in the UK when I visit.

I have to say though, that I've recently noticed a big change in the service qualities in shops and restaurants. A positive one. I have assumed that this is due to the shortage of jobs available meaning that a) employers can be more picky with who they select and b) there are more employees around who are keen to work hard and hold onto their jobs. Has anyone else noticed the same/similar?

Person_one

adouglasmhor wrote: »

It's for doing more than their job you tip.

If they just take your order and dump the food in front of you = no tip, it's a bonus in the service industry for doing that little bit more, and while they get minimum wage they also do late nights, split shifts and irregular hours

Minimum wage is not that great and people work in service because they can boost earnings with tips etc. Tipping in Britain is lower than in many other countries (about half of the USA for example).

That's not really how it works though, is it? The default is to tip unless something goes horribly wrong, they only have to provide adequate service and not throw soup down your shirt to get a tip.

I know NMW isn't great, I live off it, never get any 10% bonuses for doing my job well though.

In the US there's no requirement to pay restaurant staff minimum wage, customers know they are paying part of the waiter's salary with a tip, and the service is more personal and to be honest thoroughly irritating at times. Its a different culture entirely.

Indout96

no-one expects the non-drinker to pay in on the alcohol.

My wife has not drunk for around 15 years due to a health problem but I can assure you that diet coke is quite often more expensive than my pint. if it comes in those wonderfull very small glass COKE bottle it can easily be £6 a pint.

19lottie82

Indout96 wrote: »

My wife has not drunk for around 15 years due to a health problem but I can assure you that diet coke is quite often more expensive than my pint. if it comes in those wonderfull very small glass COKE bottle it can easily be £6 a pint.

Totally true! Even with draught coke these days. I went out for a meal a month ago with my brother. He had a normal sized coke (hf a pint) and I had a pint of coke. His was £2 and mine was £3.70!!! Now, a premium pint of lager in this place (Tiger or Heniken) is £4.10 - so not much of a difference?

Dunroamin

euronorris wrote: »

I'm not sure why not drinking alcohol would separate me from the group though? Unless everyone on the table had planned to get absolutely bladdered, which is very unlikely for a meal out. 1 or 2 people maybe, or even 1 or 2 accidentally, but not everyone.

It never even occurred to me that people would get drunk when going out for dinner!