How Much Should You Tip in Restaurants

There are certain factors to consider when deciding how much should you tip in restaurants. Things to consider are party size, restaurant class and quality of the service. A large party is anything over six people at a table. The different types of restaurants will have some influence on the tip amount.

Customers are still expected to leave a tip when eating at a counter.  There is limited service provided to customers when serving from a counter and more emphasis is put on the food. In this situation, the customer should give a tip that’s 10 percent to 12 percent of the bill. If you receive excellent service, then you can tip 15 percent.

Some customers are unsure about how to tip at a local restaurant. A good rule of thumb is to tip 15 percent before taxes if you received quality service. Many states charge a state tax of 7 percent to 8 percent, which can be doubled to get the tip amount. You can also round off the amount lower or higher depending on your state’s tax and the quality of service.  For instance, if you live in Georgia and the state tax is 7 percent and you have a restaurant bill of $25.00, then you will have a tax of $1.75 and a total bill of $26.75. You can calculate the tip by doubling $1.75, which will be $3.50. Customers are giving a 16 percent tip when doubling the state tax.

If you really enjoyed the service and meal, then you can add an extra dollar to the amount. The standard when dining with a large party is to leave 20 percent of the bill as the tip. Customers also have to realize that quality food and service are two different things. If you are not satisfied with the food, then you need to complain to the supervisor about it. The waitress or waiter should still be awarded for their efforts.  If the waiter or waitress provides poor service, then he or she should receive a lower tip. Waiting on tables is hard work and the wait staff should be rewarded with a good tip.

Be sure to check your receipt, with parties over six most restaurants add the gratuity into the check.