Tourist to DC here. No tipping at restaurants or anywhere else is appropriate, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You still need to tip everyone everywhere

No you don’t. If servers are making $15/hour or whatever I am not tipping 20%

That’s your right. But I wouldn’t eat at the same place twice. If you do, enjoy the saliva in your food.

This is the correct answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC resident, but even I am confused about what to do these days. I had lunch at a nice restaurant the other day, and the waitress approached our table at the end to let us know there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill, but that it didn't go to her; rather, it went to the kitchen staff. The implication was that she still was hoping we'd tip on top. It left such a bad taste in my mouth!

That's insane. They are now expecting you to double tip? No thanks. What restaurant was this so I can avoid it?

I completely agree with you. Please name the names!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC resident, but even I am confused about what to do these days. I had lunch at a nice restaurant the other day, and the waitress approached our table at the end to let us know there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill, but that it didn't go to her; rather, it went to the kitchen staff. The implication was that she still was hoping we'd tip on top. It left such a bad taste in my mouth!

That's insane. They are now expecting you to double tip? No thanks. What restaurant was this so I can avoid it?

Not the PP but I have also encountered this. So now when you go to a restaurant you pay an extra 40%!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC resident, but even I am confused about what to do these days. I had lunch at a nice restaurant the other day, and the waitress approached our table at the end to let us know there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill, but that it didn't go to her; rather, it went to the kitchen staff. The implication was that she still was hoping we'd tip on top. It left such a bad taste in my mouth!

That is ridiculous. Name and shame! I would have guilt tipped her and then never gone back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC resident, but even I am confused about what to do these days. I had lunch at a nice restaurant the other day, and the waitress approached our table at the end to let us know there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill, but that it didn't go to her; rather, it went to the kitchen staff. The implication was that she still was hoping we'd tip on top. It left such a bad taste in my mouth!

That's insane. They are now expecting you to double tip? No thanks. What restaurant was this so I can avoid it?

Not the PP but I have also encountered this. So now when you go to a restaurant you pay an extra 40%!

You gotta tell us what places??

[Anonymous]

I used to wait tables in DC and even I am confused by the present situation. Back in the day, it was all very straightforward. Waiters effectively made nothing as an hourly wage. Think it was less than $3.00 an hour. I recall negative paychecks once taxes were taken out. The standard tip was 20 percent, some of which went to the bartender and the food runners. Like always it would depend on the restaurant, but as a young person you could pay your bills with what you earned in tips.

Now what? DC passed a law raising the minimum wage for waitstaff. So many restaurants have supplementary charges. Oftentimes it'll say in the fine print it goes to labor. And then they still expect an additional 20 percent on top of all that?

Personally, I think restaurant owners are using the present confusion to fleece both customers and labor. Restaurant owners do often tend be an extremely sleazy group of business owners.

But as an industry, DC restaurants really need to get it together and offer some clarity. People are getting pissed off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You still need to tip everyone everywhere

No you don’t. If servers are making $15/hour or whatever I am not tipping 20%

Why not? $15 per hour is not a livable wage. Servers in NYC make $15 per hour in low cost restaurants, $20 - $40 per hour for high end restaurants plus tips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC resident, but even I am confused about what to do these days. I had lunch at a nice restaurant the other day, and the waitress approached our table at the end to let us know there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill, but that it didn't go to her; rather, it went to the kitchen staff. The implication was that she still was hoping we'd tip on top. It left such a bad taste in my mouth!

That was inappropriate for the server to say. Some restaurants use a point system where the tip is divided depending on their job, cooks, hostess, back kitchen. I can’t imagine that the server isn’t included. It mostly goes to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC resident, but even I am confused about what to do these days. I had lunch at a nice restaurant the other day, and the waitress approached our table at the end to let us know there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill, but that it didn't go to her; rather, it went to the kitchen staff. The implication was that she still was hoping we'd tip on top. It left such a bad taste in my mouth!

That is ridiculous. Name and shame! I would have guilt tipped her and then never gone back.

I think he misunderstood. I think she told him she had to share the tip with the kitchen staff. Almost as bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC resident, but even I am confused about what to do these days. I had lunch at a nice restaurant the other day, and the waitress approached our table at the end to let us know there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill, but that it didn't go to her; rather, it went to the kitchen staff. The implication was that she still was hoping we'd tip on top. It left such a bad taste in my mouth!

That's insane. They are now expecting you to double tip? No thanks. What restaurant was this so I can avoid it?

Not the PP but I have also encountered this. So now when you go to a restaurant you pay an extra 40%!

You gotta tell us what places??

NP- This just happened to me at Brasserie Liberte in Georgetown. They added a 20% service charge (I ate alone outside)+ I added a 15% tip. Glad DH was not with me. He would have gone bonkers. I like the food but will not return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What? No. You still tip 20%.

Wut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You still need to tip everyone everywhere

No, why? They have wages now. I don’t tip the dentist, Walmart cashier, or librarian for providing a service to me. They get salaries just like wait staff now.

No tips anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The law has not fully gone into effect yet. Servers are still being paid the tipped minimum wage (i.e. below minimum wage). So yes, you still need to tip unless the restaurant adds a service fee.

So they’re getting minimum wage. No tips then. Compensation is now between the employer and worker, not me as the customer.


Tipping was only for when staff made $2/hr. They don’t get tips once they reach minimum wage that far exceeds compensation like before. I don’t tip other jobs earning min wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:California has minimum wage of $15 for their servers and they still expect a tip. Unless the restaurant says no tipping it’s expected.

They can expect something all they want. When I travel to CA I’ll now not tip anywhere. Thanks for the heads up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC resident, but even I am confused about what to do these days. I had lunch at a nice restaurant the other day, and the waitress approached our table at the end to let us know there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill, but that it didn't go to her; rather, it went to the kitchen staff. The implication was that she still was hoping we'd tip on top. It left such a bad taste in my mouth!

Tell her sorry, and leave. The restaurant management made it bad, not the customer.