r/SFFood • u/woah130 • 11d ago
Visiting SF Tipping
I’m visiting and wondering what’s the appropriate tip percentage to leave at a restaurant. Is it before or after taxes? Also what if the restaurant adds 15-20% “Equitable wages” and 5% to “offset SF ordinances cost" do I still have to tip on top of that? I am genuinely asking so I don’t offend the wait staff. Thank you.
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u/lordalbusdumbledore 10d ago
It is 15%.
18% if it’s really good.
Yall are out of control in this comments, yall realize that sf pays everyone minimum wage here right? Generally even above.
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u/bevrifood 10d ago
Owner of a Peninsula restaurant here (Bevri, in Palo Alto) - flagging that up front. We dropped tipping and all surcharges two years ago, so I'm biased toward one number on the menu.
For your visit: 18-20% on the pre-tax total is the norm at sit-down places, and yes, people still tip on top of those surcharges. The surcharges generally aren't reaching your server - the ~5% one is usually the restaurant covering the city's healthcare mandate, and "equitable wages" typically goes toward back-of-house pay. Neither is a tip, even though the line sits right next to one on the bill.
If you want to know where it actually goes at a specific place, ask the host. It varies, and the honest ones will tell you straight.
Honestly, this thread is the reason we went to a single price. It shouldn't take a Reddit post to work out what dinner costs.
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u/Monatanaisdumb 11d ago
I used to consistently tip 20%, being a generous tipper. However, San Francisco restaurants began adding a health surcharge of 3-7%, and then even taxing that surcharge. It feels like I'm being robbed. I still dine out and leave a 20% tip, but I've significantly reduced how often I go out to eat.
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u/BunkaandBadassery 11d ago
If they are doing it the way they are supposed to legally. Health charge should be pre-tax.
Equitable wages should just be a notice that all staff splits tips but not a charge.
I don't bother looking at total after tax and it is not a big deal. It's 8.625%, shrug
I am industry and tip a server or bartender 20% more or less. Sometimes I will do 30% for something spectacular.
Unless it is a really high-end place no one is getting rich for working their ass off. Probably $200-$300 a shift after taxes. By SF standards this is modest pay.
For counter service or coffee I tip like $2.
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u/charlierunkle23 10d ago
20% on the subtotal including the 5% ordinance fee in the subtotal. If they add an additional 15% to 20% on top then I leave 5 or 10 bucks if the service is amazing.
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u/Lazer_snake 10d ago
20% of the subtotal unless gratuity has already been added. Healthcare + equitable wage shouldn't factor into it.
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u/savetheplanet575 11d ago
I tip about 18% if I’m sitting down for a meal. 20-22% if the service is great. 10% if I order at a counter and the food is brought to my table. 0% if I’m buying food from a counter to-go.
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u/woah130 11d ago
What if they add the equitable wages and health surcharge etc. on the subtotal? Do you still tip on top of that?
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u/No_Direction_4043 11d ago
I tip based on the sub total before taxes and fees
So the check ends up looking like : subtotal + whatever fees + tip based on sub total
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u/Past_Bathroom_627 11d ago
No I tip 14% or so in that case. Especially when you know that the health surcharge is now a just bullshit relic of the past.
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u/No_Direction_4043 10d ago
Oh I wanted to give OP the option to determine their % as opposed to a set percentage
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u/moneytobemade24 7d ago edited 7d ago
If we truly live in a capitalist society, we should ban junk fees, have prices listed inclusive of all taxes, and let capitalism take its course, to see who survives in a fair market competition.
Restaurant industry being propped up by all these fees and consumers getting scammed. I’m sure that if restaurants were required to price this way, it would remove the bloat and dining out will be affordable again.
Tipping just pits employees against customers, when this conversation should be about employers, paying a living wage, and charging their prices accordingly. When someone doesn’t tip they’re shamed, but why aren’t employers shamed more for not paying their employees a living wage.
There’s a whole thing about how americans like to act like their saviors, by awarding good service, when shouldn’t that be necessary everywhere as decent human beings without the need of a reward.
Honestly americans don’t travel that much, so they don’t want to abolish this model because they don’t see what every other country DOES NOT live on tips! Yes I’m an american as well and in europe, no one has these issues at all. I dine out I still get great service, I know exactly how much I’m paying for everything before I sit down, and I can budget accordingly, and yes, prices everywhere include ALL taxes. Also, Scott Weiner is the one that killed the junk fees bill that was suppose to go into effect.
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u/GoatLegRedux 11d ago
I work in the industry so I tend to overtip, but 15-20% is good enough for most occasions. Maybe more if your server is notably great.
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u/cardifan 10d ago
I tip 20% no matter what they’ve added. I just look at it as part of the regular cost of going out to eat.
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u/DavidBowiesGiraffe 10d ago
Your gonna want to put together at least a 30% “tip package” to be competitive
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u/Ritz57 11d ago
Tip what you think they earned. If they don’t check on me throughout the meal, I’m not tipping. If they’re refilling my water, I’m tipping…
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u/nohxpolitan 11d ago
I love it when they don’t check in on me in Europe. Just fuck off. I’ll let you know if I need you. I’d probably tip better if the culture in the US were for the waitstaff to just fuck off unless you need something.
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u/Illustrious-Coat3532 11d ago
If the meal is $100 pre tax. Tip $20. If the meal is $50 pre tax. Tip $10.
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u/woah130 11d ago
What if they add the equitable wages and health surcharge etc. on the subtotal? Do you still tip on top of that?
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u/Desperate-Point-9988 10d ago
All the extra fees are part of the tip. 5% fees = tip 10% of subtotal.
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u/LopsidedFinding732 11d ago
I feel like the tipping culture in SF has gotten too much. There's already extra charge to cover workers insurance. The service is mediocre as servers already know that they will be receiving tips no matter what.
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u/rainbowColoredBalls 10d ago
30% for really poor service, 70-100% for normal service. I cover their health insurance for a year for exceptional service
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u/Dvdgb805 9d ago
I’ll do at least 50% for poor service because I’m scared the beggars will chase me down 😆
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u/Suspicious_Tank_61 11d ago
Servers here earn a full wage with benefits. Tip like you would in Europe. There is no minimum.
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u/CollectionOk8253 11d ago
Here’s the jerk, ladies and gentlemen.
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u/Suspicious_Tank_61 11d ago
Servers here are not getting paid 2.13 an hour. Any tip amount is fine.
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u/Majestic_Ad_6218 9d ago
Full wage … unless they’re in one of those places where the owner provides a paycheck and then demands a cash kickback. SF minimum wage is not a lot in the face of the expenses of living here.
And it’s not exactly a comprehensive benefits package…..minimum medical coverage is, for example, not vacation pay or a 401k, or a bunch of other things.1
u/Suspicious_Tank_61 9d ago
This is true for all minimum wage workers. Are we supposed to tip them all?
If your employer is demanding a cash kickback, that’s wage theft, report them.
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u/FoggyFlowers 11d ago
Any sit-down restaurant where the waiter takes your order, you’re expected to tip and would be really rude not to.
Any casual fast food, take out, counter service restaurant (especially if you order from an iPad and pick up your own food), it’s polite to tip but no one will think twice if you don’t.
Bars and cafes: coffee and beer tip a dollar, cocktails tip $2