larry_stewart
Master Chef
I know this topic has been discussed over the years under many different circumstances. Here is another circumstance. I was in Philadelphia last night. We decided to try a restaurant that we had never eaten at before ( I lived in Philly years ago, and I visit it several times a year). We were going to see a show, and wanted to eat a little early so we had time to digest. We arrived at the restaurant at about 4:30pm. It was a relatively small restaurant ( 15 - 20 tables/ Booths) and only two were occupied, one by my wife and I, and another couple ( so only 4 people in the restaurant at this time).
We walked in, the waitress said ( from across the room) " you can sit over there ( and pointed to a booth across the restaurant). So my wife and I went to a booth we liked and sat down ( we weren't seated, just pointed in a direction to choose for ourselves). A minute or two later, she came by the table and dropped 2 menus on the table, and left with no verbal communication at all. She came a few minutes later with water and hot tea ( it was a Chinese restaurant). When I said thank you, she didnt reply and walked away. She ultimately took our order, and again, a thank you from us, no response from her.
Our food came out in a timely fashion, and was very good. It was delivered to our table from someone else from the kitchen ( possibly the chef, or possibly another helper). He was very nice and responsive to our communications.
In summary:
We were pointed where to sit
No verbal conversation ( or at least very limited)
I can say she did speak English , and had no accent , so it wasn't a communication issue
She didnt have and attitude or a tone in her voice, she wasnt nasty, it was just strictly business, no personality, no interaction.
The actual service was good and the food was great.
Also, no other people came in while we were there, and the Phone only rang once, so its not like it got busier. Also, the other table left about 1/2 hour after we arrived, so for the second half of our meal, we were the only people there
Careful attention was paid to the water and tea, constantly being refilled, never had to ask
So now the bill arrives. Part of me thought the tip should reflect her lack of personality and lack of welcoming attitude. The other part said that the food was good and the actual service itself was good too.
Trust me, Im not into the waiter / waitress that talks too much and interferes with the conversations Im trying to have with my dinner date. But , I think no personality at all is kinda rude and unwelcoming.
She was young, possibly a college student, and Im sure getting paid crap, so Im sure the tip would make a difference to her ( although if that was the case, she should have at least put some effort in to possibly make it a bigger tip).
So anyway, Im not exactly sure what my question is , but do you guys base your tip on The personality? The food ? The service ? A specific percantage regardless of all of the above ? The initial waitress was the the quiet one, but the server was better ( not great but definately noticeably better) so do I split the tip givind one more than the other?
Im the type of person who wont necessarily complain, Ill just never go back if I didnt like the experience. But I left this place thinking that it was a good place to order take out, but not necessarily to dine in.
It in itself didnt bother me, Its not like I was offended, It just got me thinking, when I was a bus boy , I busted my ass to make sure I got a good tip. I cant understand why someone wouldnt give their best effort ( in any job). Hell, they are getting paid for it and in this situation, have the potential and power to possibly earn more with just a few simple words like " your welcome" or " let me show you to your table" or even " How are you guys today?" I mean ive had waiters / waitresses give me advice on what to do or where to go in visiting cities, others giving directions .....
Sorry, just venting
We walked in, the waitress said ( from across the room) " you can sit over there ( and pointed to a booth across the restaurant). So my wife and I went to a booth we liked and sat down ( we weren't seated, just pointed in a direction to choose for ourselves). A minute or two later, she came by the table and dropped 2 menus on the table, and left with no verbal communication at all. She came a few minutes later with water and hot tea ( it was a Chinese restaurant). When I said thank you, she didnt reply and walked away. She ultimately took our order, and again, a thank you from us, no response from her.
Our food came out in a timely fashion, and was very good. It was delivered to our table from someone else from the kitchen ( possibly the chef, or possibly another helper). He was very nice and responsive to our communications.
In summary:
We were pointed where to sit
No verbal conversation ( or at least very limited)
I can say she did speak English , and had no accent , so it wasn't a communication issue
She didnt have and attitude or a tone in her voice, she wasnt nasty, it was just strictly business, no personality, no interaction.
The actual service was good and the food was great.
Also, no other people came in while we were there, and the Phone only rang once, so its not like it got busier. Also, the other table left about 1/2 hour after we arrived, so for the second half of our meal, we were the only people there
Careful attention was paid to the water and tea, constantly being refilled, never had to ask
So now the bill arrives. Part of me thought the tip should reflect her lack of personality and lack of welcoming attitude. The other part said that the food was good and the actual service itself was good too.
Trust me, Im not into the waiter / waitress that talks too much and interferes with the conversations Im trying to have with my dinner date. But , I think no personality at all is kinda rude and unwelcoming.
She was young, possibly a college student, and Im sure getting paid crap, so Im sure the tip would make a difference to her ( although if that was the case, she should have at least put some effort in to possibly make it a bigger tip).
So anyway, Im not exactly sure what my question is , but do you guys base your tip on The personality? The food ? The service ? A specific percantage regardless of all of the above ? The initial waitress was the the quiet one, but the server was better ( not great but definately noticeably better) so do I split the tip givind one more than the other?
Im the type of person who wont necessarily complain, Ill just never go back if I didnt like the experience. But I left this place thinking that it was a good place to order take out, but not necessarily to dine in.
It in itself didnt bother me, Its not like I was offended, It just got me thinking, when I was a bus boy , I busted my ass to make sure I got a good tip. I cant understand why someone wouldnt give their best effort ( in any job). Hell, they are getting paid for it and in this situation, have the potential and power to possibly earn more with just a few simple words like " your welcome" or " let me show you to your table" or even " How are you guys today?" I mean ive had waiters / waitresses give me advice on what to do or where to go in visiting cities, others giving directions .....
Sorry, just venting