GraTRUEities guide to tipping. We welcome input in all categories and aspects of gratuities.

Tip Guide

Restaurants/Fine Dining/Bars

Wait Staff

18% – 20% for average to good service.  20% is the new 15%!

20% – “sky’s the limit!” for excellent service.

(Tipping on the total bill is recommended, including tax and alcohol.  Tipping on tax is always the great debate but some restaurants now suggest tipping after taxes because servers thenselves tip out on the after tax amount)

Wine with dinner

The safe recommendation is to on the total bill, including alcohol. (This applies to expensive bottles of wine though some feel it’s acceptable to tip 10% for expensive wines.)

Sommelier/Wine Steward

10 -15% of cost of the bottle

For personal service from the wine steward, you may tip 10% of the wine bill.

Headwaiter/Captain

May get a cut of table server’s tip; so tip your server extra to reward captain – or tip captain separately.

Coatroom Attendant

$1 per coat

Parking Valet

$1 – $3  Average for each trip to the car or when car is returned.  More may be appropriate given conditions such as weather or location.

Washroom Attendant

50 cents to $1

Bartender

$1 – $2 a round -or- 15% to 20% of the tab, with a minimum of 50 cents per soft drink, $1 per alcoholic drink

15% – 20% of the tab; or, $1 for beer or wine, $2 for mixed drinks.  If dining at the same establishment, ideally, pay your bar tab before leaving for your table.

Cocktail Waitress

$1 – $2 per drink

Casual Dining

Counter Service

If you order at the front and food is delivered to your table, it depends.  If, once you’ve ordered, the seating and decor compare with a standard, sit-down restaurant, tip 5%-10%.  If the food is delivered to your table only as a convenience, tipping is not necessary.

Tip Jar

Always the question…what to do about the ever-present Tip Jar?  This is a subject of much debate for which we offer no concrete guideline. It its our opinion that, if you regularly frequent an establishment, it is wise to tip at least every so often.  Also, if you place an order that requires extra effort a tip is warranted.  How much to tip?  10%-15% seems to be the consensus.

Fast Food

No tipping necessary.

Buffets

At least $1 per head if you get your own beverages. If you order beverages (or more) from the server, then you should tip 10-20% of the bill based on service quality.

If you have a waitress or waiter who takes your drink order and checks on you, $1-$2 is appreciated.