Honesty vs tipping dilema. What do you think? (wine, restaurant, glass)

[gentlearts]

I wasn't sure what to call this thread, but here's what I mean...
It is our custom to have two cocktails or glasses of wine each when dining out. Several times lately, we have noticed that the server has only charged us for one drink each. We are not the types who would fail to point out an error in order to stiff the server, but I wonder if servers have some discretion as far as bar bills? Like are they doing us a favor and so would expect a more generous tip instead of changing the bill to reflect the actual charges?
I know this isn't probably fair to the owner of the restaurant, unless it could possibly be a way for a restaurant to give their customers a warm fuzzy so they'll be likely to come back.
Bottom line is, twice now, we have not brought up the "mistake" to the server, but have tipped her more for the consideration.

[collected_eve]

Throughout H.S. & college I worked at a handful of restaurants (Logan's Roadhouse, Krieger's, a country Steakhouse & Buffalo Wild Wings). All serving spirits.
If anyone was to get caught giving free drinks, they would be fired on the spot!
We were actually taught to sell MORE liquor in order to have a BIGGER tip & for profit's sake, of course. Now, I haven't worked in the restaurant business in almost 3 years now & with the economy being like it is, maybe this is a new approach to keeping guests coming in the doors.
I would point it out, personally. I honestly don't think that would happen more than a handful of times, but if a server is used to seeing you then he/she might do this bc they know that they are getting a bigger tip from you.
And this is probably the same server that's taking tips off another server's table!!

[Spree]

You weren't dining during happy hour were you - 2 for the price of 1 ?

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Spree

You weren't dining during happy hour were you - 2 for the price of 1 ?

I thought the same thing.
I was out with a friend the other night and we did a doubletake when we were only charged $6 for two glasses of wine--one each.
I said something to the bartender, and he told me it was Happy Hour. I certainly was happy.

[Ohiogirl81]

I had similar experiences, and just left a huge tip afterward -- about the price of the drink(s) I wasn't charged for. I left it up to the server/bartender to worry about who got what chunk of change. I suspect, in one case, that the bartender was serving us out of his own pocket, in which case we refunded his money.

[gentlearts]

I suppose it could have been happy hour..I did not think of that. I believe we did tip extra the equivalent of the drinks, so I guess as long as the server could make it up from that if necessary, my conscience is clear.

[suzeeq521]

I worked places where we were encouraged, by managment, to occasionally treat our regulars. A free drink, a comped dessert. It was good for everyone: the place & management got a good reputation, the server would often get a bigger tip and develop a good relationship with the regulars, and the customer felt special and got a bit of a bonus.

Also, I would occasionally buy a drink for a patron out of my own pocket. For a regular, often in celebration, if they shared good news with me or in consolation, if it wasn't so good. Not in the sense of getting them drunk, but in the sense of treating them to what they usually had. Usually resulted in a nice tip.

[michelleleigh]

I used to buy my regular coustomers drinks at times or dessert if it was there Birhtday, anniversary or something, I allways payed out of my owne pockest unless my manager comped it for me.