Gratuity in COS (how much, live, restaurants)

[Trinity Florida]

I had a question I never seen gratuity addes to my check automatically before. Is this normal in COS and I havent been paying attention?
We went to Carrabba's the other day and I noticed the 18% gratuity already put on my bill.

[Charles]

That is not normal for small groups; it is normal for large groups.

[Terytee]

Depends on the place. Most places will add that gratuity for groups of 10 or more. I've paid that in almost every state I've lived in for group dinners.

[lizmyer]

As a server, I wish my restaurant would put automatic gratuity on the bills. (Sometimes ) Some people just don't understand what is the correct amount to tip. I work my tail off and refill your 10 glasses of iced tea and clean up the mess your children make and get 3 bucks on a $80 tab. As a standard, the tip should be 15% of the bill if you have had a nice evening, enjoyed your meal, and didn't have to wait forever for something. If your waiter was not up to par, of course don't tip them the standard 15%. You have to remember that servers only get $3.09 (or is it $4.15?) an hour. Either way, it's not enough to pay the bills. Maybe that's why some restaurants are going to the automatic gratuity. Just a thought from the other side......

[Trinity Florida]

I dont mind paying it at all, actually I usually do 20% but I just never seen it put on the actual check b4

[lizmyer]

Originally Posted by Trinity Florida

I dont mind paying it at all, actually I usually do 20% but I just never seen it put on the actual check b4

I wish more people were like you!! That would totally make my day! I just moved here, but in Iowa, only really upscale places did that. It is definitely not the norm there. I wonder about here tho? Was it just a few of you or were there 6 or more of you? I know where I work, it is just the big parties that get the gratuity.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by lizmyer

As a server, I wish my restaurant would put automatic gratuity on the bills. (Sometimes ) Some people just don't understand what is the correct amount to tip. I work my tail off and refill your 10 glasses of iced tea and clean up the mess your children make and get 3 bucks on a $80 tab. As a standard, the tip should be 15% of the bill if you have had a nice evening, enjoyed your meal, and didn't have to wait forever for something. If your waiter was not up to par, of course don't tip them the standard 15%. You have to remember that servers only get $3.09 (or is it $4.15?) an hour. Either way, it's not enough to pay the bills. Maybe that's why some restaurants are going to the automatic gratuity. Just a thought from the other side......

1. I see menu's that say for parties of 6 or 8, or more, they automatically add 18% to the bill. I think that is FAIR, and I support it.

2. I know first hand what tips mean to some people. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, when Dad couldn't work due to a paralytic stroke, we lost the house, the car, were evicted, moved often, etc. Grim times. Mom waited tables and it was her tips that kept the family of six in one piece and fed. I tip very well. And yes, I hate cheapsh!its.

[Trinity Florida]

It was a party of 4

[sskkc]

We eat out a lot. I've never seen a gratuity added to the check. We're typically a party of 4, though on occasion we have 7-12. In other places we've lived, if 15% or more was added, then that's how much the server got and I would comment on the service to the manager - no matter the level of service. I'm a large tipper generally (20-25%) but if the service sucks because the server prefers answering her cell or flirting with her coworkers instead of refilling drinks and bringing food to the table hot, then I reserve the right to give her 10% (and let the manager know as well as comment on the restaurant website, almost all have that option now).

[Bob from down south]

Originally Posted by sskkc

We eat out a lot. I've never seen a gratuity added to the check. We're typically a party of 4, though on occasion we have 7-12. In other places we've lived, if 15% or more was added, then that's how much the server got and I would comment on the service to the manager - no matter the level of service. I'm a large tipper generally (20-25%) but if the service sucks because the server prefers answering her cell or flirting with her coworkers instead of refilling drinks and bringing food to the table hot, then I reserve the right to give her 10% (and let the manager know as well as comment on the restaurant website, almost all have that option now).

If the service sucks, I have no problem with tipping 0% and I will give a scathing debrief to both the waiter/waitress involved *and* the manager on duty, preferably while both are together. And then that restaurant goes on my sh** list for a while and won't see me or my money.

I dislike the automatic billing for groups, because it's like a license to suck. And even if the service is exceptional, if they add a 15 or 18% tip automatically, then that's what they get, rather than the 20-25% I'd normally give for exceptional service.

That said, I am patronizing restaurants much less the last few years. It's a relatively expensive extravagance, and we eat much better at home. Cutting that out of the budget was like printing money...it isn't missed much at all.