Q- Why do you tip a % of the bill in a restaurant? Isn't serving two plates of lobster the same effort as two plates of Mac and cheese?
A- Sometimes, but not usually.
Being a server in a place that serves lobster and expensive wine is pretty different from working at Friday's. You have a much more complicated menu to learn. The food questions are going to be much more challenging and you'll be expected to answer them on the spot and accurately. You'll be asked for wine recommendations. The standard of service that's expected is much higher, i.e. the ass kissing.
A lot of fine places will do periodic tastings for the wait staff. They'll come in on their day off and taste everything and be expected to be able speak about it. They need to know what's in it. What wine it goes with, etc.
You can't get away with saying "I don't know. I don't eat that" or "I don't know, let me go check" if someone asks if it's good, or fresh, or whatever.
Also a server in a fancy place is much more likely to be a professional server with years of experience that looks at it as a career. Not a student or a part timer. Their skill is in figuring out what's going to make that table happy and delivering that flawlessly.
If you're asking about the same restaurant and the same server serving two tables where one orders wine and one doesn't, that's a little different. But, even if the wine is an $80 bottle, they're getting $16 to go get the bottle, the glasses, open it, pour it, do the ice bucket thing if it's white, refill your glass. So, yeah, they're getting a little extra there, but it's not like they're getting rich off of wine drinkers.
A comparison I can think of is car dealers. The guy that sold me my Kia is real different from the guy that sold my Dad his BMW.
Source: I was a line cook at places ranging from a deli to an expensive German restaurant. I've worked with high school students up through transplanted European career servers. It's night and day.
So when you get one of these...
don't argue. Just pay up.
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3 comments:
tipping rules make me anxious
Having worked as a wait staff member and as a barista, I can say that tips are welcome!
Tip at least 18%; 20% at Hooters.
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