>Ira, they did not have terrible service.<

I know. They inadvertently insulted the server.

Author: LarryJ ([email protected])
Date: 04/13/2005, 08:40 am
I have never understood the reason some people are so obsessed with "should I leave a tip? or how much should I tip". And I can't imagine actually asking the guy at the next table for guidance in this regard.

Larry, once when I was having dinner at Balthazar in New York, the gentleman at the table next to me asked me if I could give him an idea of how much to leave as a tip. He was from Paris.

>>>>>
left a few centimes when they left. The waitress took it as an insult. Posters all agreed it was better to leave nothig than a few pennies

>...it was better to leave nothig than a few pennies.<

A one penny tip is the way to say, "terrible service".
>>>>>>>


Actually, this is a very american idea. here in europe, a tiny tip does not carry that a message that the diner feels there is bad service. Diners don't do this to give this message and therefore waiters do not take it this way. it's just not done and strictly an american concept.

in fact, when europeans discuss the "strange" tipping customs in the US, usually someone will say "yes, and did you know that they sometimes leave a small tip to indicate poor service" its almost cliche like talking about the germans and their reserving of beach chairs.

not all american customs extend everywhere in the world.

And not all American standards about service extend everywhere in the world, either.