How much to tip on a $1000 check -- waiter chased us out of the restaurant to complain
Jun 18th, 2002, 10:10 AM
#61
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To BTilke: I had a good chuckle reading about your experience at Biaritz. We also had the misfortune of dining there a few years ago, and it was exactly as you discribed. The older French woman who appeared to be either the manager or owner was especially rude to us. In fact, after she made several nasty cracks with her nose in the air, and we all just laughed in her face and told her we'd never return. And given that their food was mediocre at best, I have no idea how they stay in business.
To ohman: Before you get too impressed with a this guy's ability to spring for a $1000 meal, keep in mind that this was his WEDDING CELEBRATION! You know, that affair that people can spend anywhere from $20,000-$50,000 on in major metropolitan areas such as Chicago! So in the scheme of things, this was a real cheap way out, and was more like the equivalent of a Mickey Dees.
To Leslie: After reading your initial posting, I was actually feeling sorry for your husband not knowing the proper custom. However, now that you've given us a follow-up, I'm not sure what to think. I'm a little disturbed that your husband STILL thinks that his tip was proper, even after the situation was explained to him. So now you can't use ignorance of customs as an excuse for him. Instead, he now comes off as inflexible as well as miserly. This type of rigid macho behavior, coupled with your fear of communicating with him, should be a red flag to you. In this respect, I agree with Abigail. You don't mention what country he's from. May I ask if he's from a culture where men are not used to being second-guessed, especially by their wives? Because if so, I'm afraid you're going to have a tough time ahead of you. (That will be $5 for the cyber-analysis--no tip required--just kidding.)
And one last comment about being "chased" out the door. Even in the inital posting, Leslie does not state that they were yelled at, or that anyone told them they were cheap. And I think she would have said that upfront if it were the case. Instead, she says that they asked what was wrong with the service, and if she & her group were unhappy. Depending on how it was done, that may not be so unreasonable. Too many times people experience bad service and leave a small tip but don't bother to complain. A good restaurant wants to hear about it in order to make ammends. Just a thought.
To ohman: Before you get too impressed with a this guy's ability to spring for a $1000 meal, keep in mind that this was his WEDDING CELEBRATION! You know, that affair that people can spend anywhere from $20,000-$50,000 on in major metropolitan areas such as Chicago! So in the scheme of things, this was a real cheap way out, and was more like the equivalent of a Mickey Dees.
To Leslie: After reading your initial posting, I was actually feeling sorry for your husband not knowing the proper custom. However, now that you've given us a follow-up, I'm not sure what to think. I'm a little disturbed that your husband STILL thinks that his tip was proper, even after the situation was explained to him. So now you can't use ignorance of customs as an excuse for him. Instead, he now comes off as inflexible as well as miserly. This type of rigid macho behavior, coupled with your fear of communicating with him, should be a red flag to you. In this respect, I agree with Abigail. You don't mention what country he's from. May I ask if he's from a culture where men are not used to being second-guessed, especially by their wives? Because if so, I'm afraid you're going to have a tough time ahead of you. (That will be $5 for the cyber-analysis--no tip required--just kidding.)
And one last comment about being "chased" out the door. Even in the inital posting, Leslie does not state that they were yelled at, or that anyone told them they were cheap. And I think she would have said that upfront if it were the case. Instead, she says that they asked what was wrong with the service, and if she & her group were unhappy. Depending on how it was done, that may not be so unreasonable. Too many times people experience bad service and leave a small tip but don't bother to complain. A good restaurant wants to hear about it in order to make ammends. Just a thought.
Jun 18th, 2002, 10:18 AM
#62
Guest
Posts: n/a
A tip of around 15% is more than adequate for good service. A little less for inadequate service and a little more for excellent service.
Regarding wine, only an idiot would tip 15% or more for an expensive bottle. If I order a $40 bottle and leave $6 everyone is happy. If I order a $100 bottle why should I leave $15? Did the steward work any harder to pull the cork from the $100 bottle than the $40? Of course not. Don't be a sucker.
An easy way to figure a tip is to double the tax and leave that amount. Anything else is just showing off or pissing money down the drain.
My $.02.
MM
Regarding wine, only an idiot would tip 15% or more for an expensive bottle. If I order a $40 bottle and leave $6 everyone is happy. If I order a $100 bottle why should I leave $15? Did the steward work any harder to pull the cork from the $100 bottle than the $40? Of course not. Don't be a sucker.
An easy way to figure a tip is to double the tax and leave that amount. Anything else is just showing off or pissing money down the drain.
My $.02.
MM
Jun 18th, 2002, 10:26 AM
#64
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ny,
You have me confused with someone else. I did not post under the name Tricky Dick.
Michelle,
Is ny right?...Did I upset you?
My name really is Dick and I live in the Metro Washingingto Dc area ..so Watergate is in the news.
My comment was meant as a compliment and it should be taken as such.
You have me confused with someone else. I did not post under the name Tricky Dick.
Michelle,
Is ny right?...Did I upset you?
My name really is Dick and I live in the Metro Washingingto Dc area ..so Watergate is in the news.
My comment was meant as a compliment and it should be taken as such.
Jun 18th, 2002, 11:01 AM
#68
Guest
Posts: n/a
Should have left at least $150, if not $200. Perhaps the staff legitimately wanted to know why you were not pleased so as to avoid inferior service with future guests.
Why don't you return to the restaurant with a nice card and $100? Or mail it to the restaurant. That would be a class act.
And for future reference, if you don't want to be Cheap, leave 15-20% of the total bill and don't worry about the tax for heaven's sake. (And you always tip on alcohol - the server pays taxes on the subtotal which includes booze.) My mother alway said "If you can't afford to tip appropriately, you can't afford the restaurant."
Why don't you return to the restaurant with a nice card and $100? Or mail it to the restaurant. That would be a class act.
And for future reference, if you don't want to be Cheap, leave 15-20% of the total bill and don't worry about the tax for heaven's sake. (And you always tip on alcohol - the server pays taxes on the subtotal which includes booze.) My mother alway said "If you can't afford to tip appropriately, you can't afford the restaurant."
Jun 18th, 2002, 11:08 AM
#70
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As a former waiter myself, and now partner in an special events company, I think the waiter and matre D coming out after you is appaling. I also think your father giving them an extra $100 the next days is nuts. If you were uncomfortable Leslie, YOU should have called and complained to the General Manager. Yes in North America 15% is the norm for a tip, but that's all it is, it is by no means a law. You are entitled to leave not one penny. And to all the waiters posting here, yes you tightwad, get a grip.
Jun 18th, 2002, 11:43 AM
#75
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ChristineRogers, and so would any staff of the Ritz Carlton--they'd lose their jobs so fast their heads would spin. That did not happen, unless it was the scenario I and a couple of others suggested: that they were genuinely concerned that there was a problem with service and wanted to correct it.
Jun 18th, 2002, 11:44 AM
#76
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Chasing you out of the restaurant to find out what was wrong was doing you a favor. It was to make you understand for the future what the proper amount would be to tip. You should thank them for making it clear to you that you were wrong in your tipping. Don't you appreciate it when people help you out? Or did you want this same thing to happen over and over again in your new married life?
Jun 18th, 2002, 01:38 PM
#78
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To Judy,
Yes, you are correct that my husband is from a macho country in Latin America. Of course with the man shortage in the U.S. what was I to do (just kidding!) So of course our wedding dinner was not the moment to upset the applecart by correcting him. Frankly, I don't think too many husbands of ANY nationality enjoy being corrected by their wives in public!!! The responses to this incident have been very enlightening. I never even considered calling the GM of the hotel nor did I consider this a Ritz Carlton issue, per se, though I see many of you found that particularly surprising. And for sure the staff did not think we were dissatisfied, we said how much we loved everything and appreciated everything. I guess it just comes down to what someone said: lots of people don't net $100 daily, much less in a single tip and there is NO WAY I am going to convince my husband - ever - to tip 20% on a bill that big. I agree with whoever said that it is important to tip up in low cost restaurants like breakfast places. Now I am wondering if the waiter had to split that tip with other members of the staff as someone suggested (ie. wine steward, there wasn't one but there were other water servers, etc.).
Yes, you are correct that my husband is from a macho country in Latin America. Of course with the man shortage in the U.S. what was I to do (just kidding!) So of course our wedding dinner was not the moment to upset the applecart by correcting him. Frankly, I don't think too many husbands of ANY nationality enjoy being corrected by their wives in public!!! The responses to this incident have been very enlightening. I never even considered calling the GM of the hotel nor did I consider this a Ritz Carlton issue, per se, though I see many of you found that particularly surprising. And for sure the staff did not think we were dissatisfied, we said how much we loved everything and appreciated everything. I guess it just comes down to what someone said: lots of people don't net $100 daily, much less in a single tip and there is NO WAY I am going to convince my husband - ever - to tip 20% on a bill that big. I agree with whoever said that it is important to tip up in low cost restaurants like breakfast places. Now I am wondering if the waiter had to split that tip with other members of the staff as someone suggested (ie. wine steward, there wasn't one but there were other water servers, etc.).
