When tipping, is it okay to ask the waitress if tips are shared?

[Spoooon]

Well? I just had lunch with Heather Graham, and we weren't sure. Seriously though, I want to know. We had brunch at a place that was kind of a buffet, but more upscale. They had individual servers at various food stations and an omellet chef, and I didn't know whether they get tips or not.

 

[EricNKrout]

Last night, Anna and I just tipped the normal 15% or so at Le Bec-Fin. Hope this helps

 

[gopunk]

if i feel somebody is deserving of a tip, like a bus boy, i'll go up and give it to them in person to make sure they get it.

 

[Spoooon]

I wanted to do that, but I had no cash on me. The receipt had the waitresses name on it, so it kind of looked like the tips weren't shared.

 

[notfred]

I've worked in resaurtants: tips are typically shared with the busboys, cooks, and hostesses.

 

[EricNKrout]

<< if i feel somebody is deserving of a tip, like a bus boy, i'll go up and give it to them in person to make sure they get it. >>



Actually, I'm almost positive that the waitresses give some of their tip money to the bus-boys. I've had quite a few waitress girlfriends, so I think I'm probably right on this one.

 

[nightcat]

When I worked in a restaurant, tips were shared with the busboys and hostesses but not with the chefs. The chefs were paid a lot more than the rest of us though. In any case, I don't think there is any problem asking the waitress or waitor if tips are shared. Keep in mind that if you try to allocate your tips yourself and tip the waitor or waitress less, they won't know what you've done and will still have to give a portion of their tips away. They'll just think you left a cheap tip.

 

[gopunk]

Actually, I'm almost positive that the waitresses give some of their tip money to the bus-boys. I've had quite a few waitress girlfriends, so I think I'm probably right on this one.

well i learned it from my parents who were both waiters/waitresses, so maybe the bus boys don't get as much or something.

 

[calpha]

If a restaurant has a busboy and a bar, tips are shared. usually you have to tip out 1 or 2% of total sales, and that gets spread between hostesses, Busboys, and bartenders. If the waiters/waitresses are smart (or cute) they will tip the busboys extra to get their tables cleaned faster. You have to remember waiters and waitresses make 2.13 or 2.17 an hour, so tips are their livlihood.

 

[mackdawgson]

<< When I worked in a restaurant, tips were shared with the busboys and hostesses but not with the chefs. The chefs were paid a lot more than the rest of us though. >>



This was the same as when I worked in a restaurant.

I find that nowadays people expect a tip for everything, even if they do a crappy job and don't deserve it. For some reason I find myself giving it to them too :disgust:

 

[gopunk]

You have to remember waiters and waitresses make 2.13 or 2.17 an hour, so tips are their livlihood.

wouldn't that be below minimum wage?

 

[Odoacer]

Yes, but restaurants don't have to pay minimum wage if the tips the waitresses/waiters recieve make up for the lower hourly pay they recieve. It's kinda sad.

 

[gopunk]

weird. i have a friend who works parttime as a waitress... when she does work, she makes around 75 bucks a night (incl tips). but she works at a higher end restaurant so that may be it.