Choosing Dinner Destinations??

[maxpayne124]

i usually tip when:
a)the food is good
b)the service is good
c)i know someone that works there.

i go and take out my fiance once in a while for a nice cooked meal but usually i cook at home. i love to cook. she loves everything i cook even though i only took foods in high school. i guess having all male cooks in my family kinda helps too.....

[sera300]

Originally Posted by constantlylearning

I don't think I could leave without leaving a tip. In my world, everyone is
tipped. Wait staff, shoe shine people, cart people, beverage people, attendants
at the club, valets, etc. I can remember (vividly) being taught as a younger
person how to tip and the appropriate amounts in various situations or particular
services.

Ditto....although perhaps it's part of the Australian and other non-US Territory's cultures?
In the US, service staff, make their income from tipping/gratuity's; unless when specifically the restaurant policy is gratuity included. Then you only tip above the amount included unless you have poor service from the staff. I do know in some Country's tips/gratuity is not appropriate. However, wages for these individuals in the US make lower than min. wage and depend on their ability to provide a good service to their clients for income. In fact, the Government figures the average wait staff will make a percentage of the sales & tax them accordingly. Now, if they do not receive a tip/gratuity they are penalized with taxable income.

Within the US, the only individuals which are not expected a tip for service are those who are the owner's of a business. Additionally, medical personnel cannot accept such; therefore, a thank you note, flowers, or cookies are appreciated if one offered excellent service which made life easier. Often a thank you note is placed in an individuals Human Resource file and may make a difference first personally and if they are being considered for a promotion. Same holds true if you received "poor" service.

You seem to be very polite & "proper", CL.

[cyclefreak]

In Australia, tipping is not standard practice, and is not expected. A tip is usually only given by somebody as a token of appreciation for receiving exceptionally good service.

To me, that seems like the right way to do things. The idea of automatically giving everybody a tip as they do in the US just seems bizarre to me. When you go to a restaurant, for example, the staff are being paid by their employer to do a job. It is therefore the employer's responsibility to remunerate them appropriately. If the staff have to rely on tips to supplement their income, then there is something wrong. If somebody just stood next to me waiting for a tip, I'd wonder what he was waiting for. I'd probably just shake his hand.

[sera300]

Originally Posted by cyclefreak

In Australia, tipping is not standard practice, and is not expected. A tip is usually only given by somebody as a token of appreciation for receiving exceptionally good service.

To me, that seems like the right way to do things. The idea of automatically giving everybody a tip as they do in the US just seems bizarre to me. When you go to a restaurant, for example, the staff are being paid by their employer to do a job. It is therefore the employer's responsibility to remunerate them appropriately. If the staff have to rely on tips to supplement their income, then there is something wrong. If somebody just stood next to me waiting for a tip, I'd wonder what he was waiting for. I'd probably just shake his hand.

Wages are so low in the US industry! Below minimum wage! It's an easy way for employers to hire staff. Good old corporate America!

[lustforlove]

I England we tip, normally around 10% of the price of the meal. Although the waiting staff don't get the actual tip sometimes. Alot of the time it all goes into a pot and helps pay for things like christmas parties ect.

[constantlylearning]

Sera is correct (from what I am told) that "servers" are paid a low minimum
wage and rely on the tips to make up the difference. I have never owned
a restuarant but clients have and some high end establishments have servers
that can do fairly well on busy days. I truly do not think I could check into a
hotel or go to eat without additional compensating the people who assist me.
As Cycle finds it odd that the tipping transpires, I would equally find it odd if
it did not occur.

[cyclefreak]

I guess one's attitude to tipping depends on where you live, and the norms that you have become used to.

[dlb]

I usually make my dining out decisions based on why: 1) it's a special occasion 2)I am on a business trip and can't eat at home, 3)I don't have time to cook at home, or it's Saturday and my wife doesn't want to cook. Oh I almost forgot-Maybe I have been invited, but in that case the decision is rarely mine.

If it is a special occasion I will try to go someplace where I can be served something that I cannot easily prepare at home or simply can't/ don't know how to prepare. This usually means I'll choose ethnic food or nouvelle cuisine.
If I am away from home because of work, which causes a lot of transoceanic travel, I will try to eat what is typical in the place I am visiting ; paella in Spain, pirogi in Poland, Barbecue in North Carolina, lengthy descriptions in lieu of names in China lol, etc.
If it's that we just don't want to cook at home, but aren't particular about what we eat we go to a family style restaurant.
If it's a question of time I usually try to eat healthy, but have been known to eat pretty much anything. I am still ashamed that I broke down and ate a Subway sandwich outside the silk markey in Beijing-it was expedient.

[Zorbgoddess]

Go to http://www.opentable.com They let you browse through many restaurants in your area, separated by category and you can make your reservation right there and then. They also allow you to make special requests and give feedback afterwards. Plus... you get points every time you use it to book a reservation. Every so many points give you dining certificates ($20, $50, $100...etc) and depending on how frequently you use it VIP status. You can see reviews from other users, browse restaurants in other area if you are traveling, etc. It's become a great asset since I discovered it. Take a look and see if it helps you any. Oh yeah... and it's completely free to join. Points are also NOT awarded by how much you spend at any given restaurant, only that you use the site and book a table. Hey who doesn't like to earn money while enjoying a great restaurant.

[constantlylearning]

Thank you so very much Ms. Zorbo. That is the best piece of advice that I have
received on this thread. Thanks again I will indeed try that.