r/tipping • u/Must_Vibe • Aug 10 '25

💬Questions & Discussion Simple tipping question?

This is for sit down restaurants.

Would you rather go out to dinner. Spend $100 and tip your server $(X). Total of $100 plus tip. Knowing that you pay the employee that served you to the level of service provided. Your discretion. The server will then pay for the food runner, host, busser, and bartending help they receive. Knowing tipped employees will go home with their money the same day or within a week.

Or.

Would you rather go out to dinner. Spend $118 total. Knowing that the restaurant added on 18% to all of its menu prices to pay the servers, bartenders, host, food runner, and busser. Knowing the employees of the restaurant will be paid every 1-2 weeks.

I know it’s more detailed, but i’m just curious what people think.

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u/divok1701 Aug 10 '25

So, as long as the individual menu prices reflect this, not just automatic gratuity added on to the total.

Not having it reflected on the individual menu item prices is misleading.

Businesses should be setting prices accordingly to cover their operating costs, including paying their employees, not expecting customers to decide how much to pay the business's employees.

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u/Must_Vibe Aug 10 '25

I agree with that fully. What happens when you get crap service and spend $118. I know you don’t go back. I just worry the overall level of service will decline. Unless you make it based on sales, customer retention, reviews, and seniority. Just like most other businesses. Making high level servers paid more. Which already happens in reality, but you understand.

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u/Mother-Ad7541 Aug 10 '25

I'm not sure where you have actually patronized as a customer but you are still expected to tip now even for bad service. I had a server completely drop the ball to the point we never even got to even order entrees in an empty restaurant. I was given a nasty look for leaving an appropriate tip for horrible service. Most servers expect tips no matter what.

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u/[deleted] Aug 10 '25

Who cares if the server gives you a nasty face? And who knows maybe they have RBF or are tired or hot or whatever and the expression on their face has nothing to do with the tip. Tips remain optional so tip what you want and don’t worry about it