How much to tip on a $1000 check -- waiter chased us out of the restaurant to complain
#22
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Leslie,
While 15-20% would have been appropriate, my concern is that you just married this man and yet you say, "I didn't feel I could say anything to my new husband." If you can't talk to him about something as impersonal as tipping, why did you marry him?
While 15-20% would have been appropriate, my concern is that you just married this man and yet you say, "I didn't feel I could say anything to my new husband." If you can't talk to him about something as impersonal as tipping, why did you marry him?
#23
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I would have chased you out of the restaurant, too, after seeing you consume such a festive meal on such a festive occasion and then only getting $100 -- I would have assumed something had gone terribly wrong and I didn't catch it. No wonder it was BOTH waiter AND maitre d' -- staff at the Ritz don't normally do such things.
I'm surprised the Ritz didn't tack on the usual "18% service charge for parties of 6 or more" onto your bill to avoid just such nonsense. In catering, it's customary to be extra generous for such special occasions, not shave it down to bare-bones.
You should have warned your husband that $150 was bare minimum, $180 was standard, $200. was appropriate, and $250 wouldn't have been unusual in such circumstances.
A suggestion: make it right. Contact the Ritz -- I'm sure the restaurant will remember you -- find out the name of the waiter and send a check for $100. with special thanks for the service and an apology for the misunderstanding. This may seem way beyond the expected, but you probably ruined his evening -- why not make his whole week?
I'm surprised the Ritz didn't tack on the usual "18% service charge for parties of 6 or more" onto your bill to avoid just such nonsense. In catering, it's customary to be extra generous for such special occasions, not shave it down to bare-bones.
You should have warned your husband that $150 was bare minimum, $180 was standard, $200. was appropriate, and $250 wouldn't have been unusual in such circumstances.
A suggestion: make it right. Contact the Ritz -- I'm sure the restaurant will remember you -- find out the name of the waiter and send a check for $100. with special thanks for the service and an apology for the misunderstanding. This may seem way beyond the expected, but you probably ruined his evening -- why not make his whole week?
#24
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Leslie, you should have made your non-American husband aware of what is expected in a US restaurant. When dinner is $165.00 a person, one shouldn't be cheap on the tip.
When I've eaten in European restaurants, there was a notation on the cheque or in the menu that service was included. But I took the time to learn the customs before eating out.
However, it was extremely tacky of the restaurant to follow you outside.
When I've eaten in European restaurants, there was a notation on the cheque or in the menu that service was included. But I took the time to learn the customs before eating out.
However, it was extremely tacky of the restaurant to follow you outside.
#25
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I am surprised The Ritz didn't tack on a service charge. You should have informed your husband of the tipping procedures but to be chased out is completely insane and not The Ritz style (and probably against proper procedures) You need to call and speak with someone about this.
#27
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most people do not realize that for tax purposes the US government automatically adds 15% to the total bill (food, drink and tax) to calculate a waiter's income tax . therefore not tipping on the total amount is also stiffing them. also tips are the majority of waiter's income in the US.
leslie,
if you plan on living in the US please teach your husband to avoid future embarrasment.
leslie,
if you plan on living in the US please teach your husband to avoid future embarrasment.
#28
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I've often heard that you should tip a higher percent (than the customary 15%) to waiters at low priced restaurants, like a breakfast place. If you follow that logic through, would then a super high priced restaurant get a lower percent? I always tip at least 15%, and usually closer to 20%, unless the service was really horrible.
PS I once had a waitreess friend chase after a customer because he left her too high a tip!! She thought he made a mistake.
PS I once had a waitreess friend chase after a customer because he left her too high a tip!! She thought he made a mistake.
#29
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Okay so you deserve Chapter II. The next day we found out that my father had lost the marriage certificate, probably while at the restaurant! I was sure the waiter would have ripped it up! As it turns out my father went there in person and it was found in the coatroom. Luckily in was lost there, not in the restaurant. As it happens, he did take the occasion to leave another $100 for the waiter. HOWEVER my husband is still convinced that his tip was more than enough, and he doesn't know anything about my father's additional tip. That $100 represents minimum wage in his country and he felt it was enough, period. I guess the bigger question is, considering all the stuff Americans don't know and do wrong when they go abroad, how can we be so judgemental of foreigners in our country.
#30
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leslie troll whatever you go are going by here. It does not matter what every other country is doing. I have worked as a waiter and when foreign nationals were in my restaurant they honor the American standard. If they didnt the restaurant manager compensated. There are some non-sophisticated nationals but for the most part if they ever picked up a travel guide they know what they are doing. They understand that at home waiters are not making 2 dollars an hour and live off the tips.. Thing is Leslie did your hubby just get off the boat or something and why is he paying the bill if he does not understand the customs. This is where I think you were not careful. If he made a blunder like that there had to be warning signs.
I have many friends that are foreign nationals who completely understand tipping procedures. And if they were chased down which I doubt happened at the Ritz Carlton PULLLEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSEEE!!!!
Finally, most restaurants would have added the serving charge on a bill that large. If you were drunk and at 1000 dollars I am guessing someone was getting sloshed they would not wait to see that you could figure averages correctly.
I have many friends that are foreign nationals who completely understand tipping procedures. And if they were chased down which I doubt happened at the Ritz Carlton PULLLEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSEEE!!!!
Finally, most restaurants would have added the serving charge on a bill that large. If you were drunk and at 1000 dollars I am guessing someone was getting sloshed they would not wait to see that you could figure averages correctly.
#31
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What's more important here IMO is the fact that you felt like you couldn't say anything to your new husband. If you know someone well enough to marry them, then you should be able to explain to them why the waiters chased you out. Your husband also could've asked your opinion on how much to leave if he wasn't sure. That's what my husband does, and therefore we never find ourselves in that embarrasing position.
Communication in a marriage is first and foremost!
Communication in a marriage is first and foremost!
#33
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Leslie, Please call and let the General Manager of the hotel know what his employees did. That was very rude and shows poor judgment on the Maitre'd part as well as the employee (unless the employee was told to follow the Maitre'd). I understand being approached but it should have only been done by a manager or Maitre'd and very discretely
#34
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We also deserve to get the whole story upfront! I feel that I have wasted my time even thinking about your original post! C'mon Leslie! While you're brushing up on your "Tipping Etiquette" check out the Chapter on "Fodors' Etiquette for Posters"! I'm chasing you off this board!!
#40
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Yes, you probably should've left $50 more, but the waiter and maitre'd shouldn't have raised a stink. $100 is a lot of money for serving one table and they should've been happy with what they got, or at least kept their mouths shut. Some people on this forum probably don't clear $100 for a full days work.