Tipping - was Tipping on Wine

I'll probably catch greif for wadeing back into this one... But what the hell. Theoretically, the waiter in the fine dinning establishment has more skills & more knowledge of food, wine ect... What got me out of cafe & pub service & into fine dinning & eventually management, was the challenge & the desire for more knowledge. If I went back to a slap & dash pub type enviornment now... It would bore me to tears..... Just my opinion.

En Vino Veritas Mathew

Hey Mathew, I Certainly can't discount your experience. I look at it from a consumer view, you look at it from a "been there, done that" view. I guess I've never been to a restaurant where I've relied on the waiter/ waitress recommendation for wine (or even food, other than suggestions). I'm not a world traveler and my experiences are limited. Thanks, very much, for your thoughts, Dick

Ok try this on for size.

Many people make a ton of money working at low end pancake houses of 15-20% tips. Why...they turn the table 2-3x an hour.

Dining in a fine food establishment the server probably gets to turn a table

Think of you tip that way. Same % but different time at table.

Yeah, but if I order a hamburger and a beer at a neighborhood bar (or pancakes and eggs at a breakfast joint), two bucks is about all she's worth (not even that if she's sucking on a cigarette at the end of the counter discussing her personal problems with coworkers and sometimes even other customers).

Whereas if I order a five-course degustation meal (with matching wines) served by a tuxedoed waiter, seated by an awsome looking hostess in a tight black skirt, with another hot looking babe playing a harp, a somelier who makes a great recommendation, and a courteous young man having my car ready at the door when I walk out (not to mention the older man in the bathroom that's worked there longer than I've been alive asking me "How is you evening, sir," while turning on the faucet, pumping my hand-soap, and handing me a towel), those people are worth at least $50 for a bill of, let's say, $250.

It's not about percentages or about subsidizing unfair wages, it's about common sense -- paying something extra on your own to show your appreciation for a job well done.

And while most restaurants fall between the two extremes I've just painted, the principle is the same.

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"Vincent" wrote in news:PASWc.3219$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com:

another hot looking babe ...

Hooters has degustation menus? ;)

Someone point me in the direction of the restaurant that has hot-looking men wearing speedos... ahem ;)

d;;D just in fun

Principle is ths same...that was my point.

I like the way we tip here in USA and don't understand if it's not included why someone would have a problem with our method.

Chiefly you have to understand the customs of the countries you visit...when in rome do as the _ _ _ _ _.

appreciation

Hi evoavidh,

But they do have a pretty good (maybe not very authentic) Cuban Sandwich. I'll order some quesadillas or chicken wings, enjoy them with a beer or 2 (and the view), and then take the Cuban Sandwich home (along with something for the wife), followed by a Romeo (just can't have one without the other).

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Hi Richard,

visit...when

Exactly. It's like we do it from the heart, not out of any sense of obligation, yet people from countries that charge a service fee in the bill, have a hard time accepting the concept of parting with their cash on their own free will (this includes otherwise generous people; I'm married to one; but after 5 years in the US, she's finally getting it).

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My thought perzackly, Dick. And this also speaks to why our system of tipping would never work in France, f'rinstance: there, most restaurants that I've dined at have a *single* seating per night at a table. So, a server's tips would come from a single party -- pretty rough business.

Mark Lipton

Occasionally I can actually hit the top of the nail!!!! :-)

I agree - tipping is a cultural thing. Here in Australia tipping is not as universal as in many other countries and generous tipping is unusual - many people (including me) feel it is an abomination. (If tips are given it is generally on the inclusive bill for food and wine, not separately).

Anti-tippers figure that if we eat out in a classy eatery and pay top dollar for the food and often exorbitant prices for wine that those prices should cover all overheads including wages. We don't tip for other services (wine merchants, greengrocers, doctors, dentists, car mechanics, cheesemongers etc.) why should restaurants be treated any differently? In a sense the argument that we should tip because waitstaff are poorly paid is merely an argument to enrich greedy restaurateurs - who should pay all staff a decent living wage. Cheers! Martin

it's not included

countries you visit...when

neighborhood bar (or

about all she's

end of the counter

sometimes even other

matching wines)

hostess in a

harp, a somelier who

having my car

man in the bathroom

me "How is you

hand-soap, and

for a bill of,

wages, it's about

show your

I've just

in message

news:IGRWc.11264$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...

pancake houses of

probably gets to turn a

at table.

bill doesn't seem

waiter/waitresses, one

working at a neighbor

but I might pay

shouldn't be

establishment where they

But if you were another country and it was not included and you knew that their was a tipping standart wouldn't that be different?

I know when I was in France and the service was included I only left pocket change.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I think that is how it goes anyway.

There is no right or wrong on this issue.. Its strictly cultural and as long as you know what the rule and game is its ok.