Posted by TommyBoy23 Ok, first, why 18%? Uhh, I really don't know. It seems that most places add a gratuity of 18% onto checks for large parties. I would assume that 15% is a little outdated and putting on 20% might be a bit much and cause people to complain, they just a number in the middle. 17.5%, ya round it up...boo yaahhhh...18%. I guess. Pre- or post tax? I won't get upset about someone tipping pre-tax, although it seems most people just take the bottom line and tip on that. Tipping on wine? YES. YES. YES. It's part of your meal, you're ordering it, it is served to you, you consume it. Tip on it. If you get a $20 bottle, throwing in an extra 4 bucks won't kill you. If you're getting a $200 bottle, you can afford to tip on it. If anything, wine is more work for a server than ordering food. For me, when someone orders food, I punch the order in on the computer, a food runner brings it out. If someone orders wine, I ring it in on the computer...then I get wine glasses and if a bottle of white, a wine chiller. If it's bisy and I have to wait a few minutes for the bottle I set the glasses and chiller on the table. If it's slow and I get the bottle right away, I bring everything together. Now, I have to present the wine. Then cut foil, then pull out the cork, then unscrew the cork (I actually unscrew first then remove the cork with my hand), then I have to present the cork. Nope, not done. Now I have to pour a taste. Then the wine needs to be tasted, then I need to pour..and not the way water is poured, it is a "presentation" so I have to graceful and have no dripping, and roll the bottle at the end of each pour, and use a napkin to prevent drop from running down the side of the bottle. Yes, tip on wine. Gotta run...I'll post later my thoughts on service...what makes service bad, good, great, or anything in between. Tommy
on 9/14/2002, 3:35 pm
I started a new thread on the tipping issue, just 'cause there were too many posts on the last one, and it was starting to look confusing.
This isn't as big a deal as tipping or not tipping on wine. In NJ, sales tax is 6%. So let's say I have table order $200 worth of stuff...their bottom line is $212. Is they tip me 20% on the bottom line, the tip is $42.40. If they tip pre-tax, it's 40 dollars even. No big difference.
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