Dinner with friends

[Squidnation]

Good Service is an art form. How to provide good service and not be intrusive is truly an art form. When we ate a chain type resturant in cancun Nicho couldn't help but comment on the incredible service we were getting from the waiter. All waiters in Mexico treated us like we were kings waiting for the royal dinner. Jen had set up a reservation for us when we got back home. As we were waiting for a meal in salisbury Nicholas looked at me with disappointment and said, no mistaking it now, We must be home. These people suck!. I couldn't help but laugh.

[biebs]

Nothing worse than going to a place when you get ingnored. I roll. Its one of my pet peeves.

K

[knot for shore]

I have no problem giving a generous tip if three things are met - thoughtful service, prompt service and happy service. However, I don't want the server to be up my ass, but I do want their relevant attention. I'm easy when it comes to eating out, but I will pay for what I get, or don't get.

Like last night, took Kim out to a great dinner and had great service. Gave the guy 23%. He did a good job and got paid for it.

[Bigeye10]

I usually overtip, because I bartended for years and know what it is like. But if the server is bad and dissappears and doesnt try and make up for a slow kitchen , I will tip accordingly.

But when people bust out the calculator and try and split it to the penny like, and want 6 checks , that is downright embarassing. I wouldnt go out with them again.

[JD5652]

I'll tell ya....I HATE the whole calculator thing or anything close to it.....before I submit to that kind of cheap, anti-social crapola....I'll just pay the whole bill myself!....or if I have previous knowledge of theb party/person being that way...I just won't dine with them......

Normally I'm a 20% tipper as well....same background.....BTDT....where I do draw the line at the 20% rule is if the table has relatively expensive bottle(s) of wine...and I may still tip the 20% on the wine IF the server knows how to serve it.....

[FINRAZOR RODS]

This kinda reminds me of a tournament we fished last year where when it came time to split the cost, one of the guys threw in his amount to the total for ALL the tackle he bought, like $500 worth and then packed it up and went home with it...

[captcl]

20% or 20% +. Even at dunkin doughnuts!Living at the beach most people serving you are not making much per hour. Those tips are important to them.

[Avenger]

My dad always says that you should base the tip on the meal itself, excluding tax. I know it makes a minimal difference, but I think my pop is being a skinflint. What is the ettiqutte on that???

Your pop is right. Now go apologize.

I did some bartending for a while, and after dealing with some cheap screws I now tend to overtip unless somebody does a lousy job. Prior to that I usually tipped about 15% but the math is easier if I do 20% and round up.

On dividing the check: My wife has a dinner group that meets once a month and they just average the bill. Problem is, my wife doesn't drink, and usually orders a salad or chicken. Everybody else is having cocktails and lobster so her $15.00 meal turn into a $45.00 meal. Is it going to break us? No. If it's an occasional thing, is it a big deal? No. But when it happens every time I don't think it's unreasonable for them to do some math to reflect it. I told her to start drinking and at least get her money's worth.

Now for the hand grenade: The whole tipping thing blows! Employers should pay their employees enough that they don't have to stand around with their hand out. And don't give me the T.I.P.S. means To Insure Prompt Service line 'o crap. You don't tip the chef for cooking your food well, and yet for some reason they usually do their job just fine. This is nothing but a tax dodge, and everybody who gets their income via paycheck should be pissed.

[Squidnation]

This kinda reminds me of a tournament we fished last year where when it came time to split the cost, one of the guys threw in his amount to the total for ALL the tackle he bought, like $500 worth and then packed it up and went home with it...

was that after the tournament ended or during

[FINRAZOR RODS]

AHHH yes, Bill. There was a little packing right before the end as I recall.