http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/200...sh_people.html

Worth a read....especially some of the appended comments!

Based on this waiter's reasoning, diners in San Francisco do not need to leave any tip since the City has mandated that all restaurant staff, including waiters, must be paid minimum wage.

Not to contribute to stereotypes but several times I have eaten in upscale British restaurants and seen locals leave what I consider incredibly miserly tips. And these were people who were expensively (although perhaps not that well) dressed - with real jewelry.

Perhaps that's how they paid for the clothes. But it struck me that practically stiffing the wait staff - esp when you're demanding (as two of the couples were) may be some sort of class attitude.

(And yes, they were restaurants where a tip was appropriate.)

Ah the 'tipping'debate. Here in the UK we generally don't tip 15/20% and it's generally not expected, we leave on average about 10%.

But when on hols to USA we are aware of your tipping (though sometimes feel its not always warrented, though its always expected).

But all this tipping adds up, last year we calculated that tips (using your average of between 15/20%) left after our snacks, drinks, meals etc = about £110 (about $220) this is a lot of money (to us).

I think waiters in USA should be on a min wage, and that 10% is a reasonable tip to leave.

We calculated once that if the waiter got 15/20% tip(on average)from his customers on his average 6/8 hour shift then he would be earning more than we earn here in UK!!

We save all year for our hols and to loose over £120 ($220)in tips is a lot, but we do it as its the custom in US, not all Brits are tight wads!!!

The ones leaving 10% are.

Whether or not the tipping system in the US is good or bad, it is what it is. I think that when planning a holiday, people need to take tipping into account just like any other expense.

I haven't been to England since 1982. But I've been in Ireland twice in the past three years. Eating out there is much more expensive than it is here. Even including a 20% tip here.

They should put the food up 20% and pay their staff 20% more! Simple!

(A Brit who tips on both sides of the Atlantic, but certainly doesn't get out her calculator when doing so!)

wildblue yonder, I don't need a calculator its about $1.92 to £ here at moment, so to make it easier we just round things off, no big deal.

Can't speak for Ireland, but here in NW of England our meals out are not more expensive than in USA, we thought that like for like and when tax etc is added at end of meal, there was not that much difference.

Maybe likes of London and large towns might be more expensive.

And we do take extra $$ to allow for tips when visiting USA and we usually adhere to the rule of 15% when in US unless the service and server have been wonderful then we will be very generous (20/25%).

It is horses for courses and when in Rome etc, etc.

When I said they should be on Min wage it was in response to what the person in the piece said, in that he was on tips only and received no wage - that is why i said they should (at least) be on a min wage + tips, no one should be on tips only - it puts too much pressure on everyone.

And re: mean tipping in the upscale restaurant in UK, well, yes there are mean people everywhere, I have seen my fill of bad behaviour/rudeness in UK and in USA.

Hi Ann

I didn't mean a calculator to convert $ to £ (just divide by 2!)- but to work out the percentage tip! Wouldn't want to be accused of being a stingy Brit - LOL!

Actually, we seldom dine out when in the US (and you don't tip McDs! or in the UK, come to that! I don't think that restaurant staff should have to rely on tips, but, as they do, we should tip them. (I'm not sure we're much better here - both my son and dil have worked in the restaurant industry; wages were appalling and tips were most welcome).

My husband always tips taxi drivers way over whatever the percentage expected is - but that's because it's always so cheap! Perhaps if he didn't tip the taxi drivers so much, we'd be able to afford to eat out!

Yes - the food prices go up - but the money doesn;t go to the staff - it goes to the owners (who are having to pay more for food, taxes, heating etc). So - if the prices were raised it woulnd;t help the staff - who often work for a couple of dollars an hour plus free meals.

I think the key is to realize that you need to account for tip and tax - and pick places with prices that you're comfortable with on that basis.

Wildblueyonder,
Got ya! though i just knock nought off etc to get the 15% tip.

As you know i like rounding things off LOL..

So if bill is $86.00 i would just think (in my head) 10% is $8.60 and 5% is $4.30 so 15% would be about $12.90 so would leave tip between $12/.$13.

Know its convaluted to some and am sure there are better ways but this works for me..

Agree, taxi drivers do pretty well (usually) here in UK for tips.

We eat out all the time when on holiday in USA or any other country as thats part of the hol to us.

To sample different styles of cooking and getting a feel for how the locals eat out etc, and we always enjoy the differences from our travels.