Service charges / tipping in restaurants

hayser · 14-03-2010 06:36PM #1

Sorry if this is not in the right section but I was just out for lunch and a service charge was added to the bill. None of us were sure should we leave a tip aswell. We did leave 10 for a tip just in case as the service was very good but I was just wondering does anyone know was this necessary? Thanks in advance

phasers · 14-03-2010 06:42PM

It's personal choice really, I personally don't tip if there's a service charge already included.

stovelid · 14-03-2010 07:14PM

I usually discreetly ask one of the waiting staff if the service is actually given to them. If not, I leave a tip.

phasers · 14-03-2010 08:32PM

stovelid wrote: »

I usually discreetly ask one of the waiting staff if the service is actually given to them. If not, I leave a tip.

Don't you think the waiting staff could be lying to get more money?

stovelid · 14-03-2010 09:08PM

phasers wrote: »

Don't you think the waiting staff could be lying to get more money?

Lol, never thought of that. I'm pretty trusting.

DazMarz · 15-03-2010 01:10AM

I usually refer to this sage advice from Mr. Steve Buscemi on this topic. Haha.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ODhIFawfs

(couldn't embed the vid, unfortunately)

judas101 · 15-03-2010 02:49AM

hayser wrote: »

Sorry if this is not in the right section but I was just out for lunch and a service charge was added to the bill. None of us were sure should we leave a tip aswell. We did leave 10 for a tip just in case as the service was very good but I was just wondering does anyone know was this necessary? Thanks in advance

was your party 6 or more?

if so then its normal

scudzilla · 15-03-2010 09:12AM

4 of us went for a meal in Cape Greko in Malahide last summer, it was a tuesday night and the place was relatively quiet, Bill came to around 150euro as far as i can recall, and they'd addd a 15% service charge!!! Apparently upon checkin the menu, it was in small print at the bottom, tables of 4 or more have this added.

IMO that's taking the piss, i'll leave a tip if i've had good service, i hate having it forced upon me, My wife and i used to go there a lot and didn't notice it as it didn't apply for tables of 2 (we always left 10% or more)

They sure lost our custom by doing that

Diddler1977 · 15-03-2010 10:34AM

scudzilla wrote: »

4 of us went for a meal in Cape Greko in Malahide last summer, it was a tuesday night and the place was relatively quiet, Bill came to around 150euro as far as i can recall, and they'd addd a 15% service charge!!! Apparently upon checkin the menu, it was in small print at the bottom, tables of 4 or more have this added.

IMO that's taking the piss, i'll leave a tip if i've had good service, i hate having it forced upon me, My wife and i used to go there a lot and didn't notice it as it didn't apply for tables of 2 (we always left 10% or more)

They sure lost our custom by doing that

You should email this restaurant and let them know you won't be returning to their restaurant because of this practise.

Bonito · 15-03-2010 02:00PM

stovelid wrote: »

I usually discreetly ask one of the waiting staff if the service is actually given to them. If not, I leave a tip.

I know a couple of restaurant where the service charge is actually given to the cleaners and porters in the kitchen seeing as they don't get tips :rolleyes:

eightyfish · 15-03-2010 02:07PM

scudzilla wrote: »

IMO that's taking the piss

Taking the piss maybe, but fairly common. I much prefer to decide myself how much I want to tip, which is usually at least 15%, rather than have it decided for me. For this reason, I never add a tip on top of a service charge.

Do the restaurant not have to give the service charge to the staff?

helimachoptor · 15-03-2010 02:09PM

Bugs me so much, I bought a spa voucher for a the GF there a couple of years ago, €250, service charge was 10%. Whats the service charge for am I not paying €250 for the service:mad::mad:

Kearnsie · 15-03-2010 05:42PM

We would usually be happy paying the service charge if the food / service was good.

Equally if the food / service was bad we would not hesitate in saying so and explaining that this is something we will not be paying the full price for. Then carry on with the rest of the meal.

It may bring about the need for the Irish to be a little more vocal / polite when it comes to something that we do not like while dining.. then the compulsary charge will not matter as it is worth paying for.

Do not pay for what you dont get! Be it service or quality food & Beverage & if you get a service charge, do not add to the tip! Unless you really really want to! Its not required!

arybvtcw0eolkf · 15-03-2010 05:46PM

Moved from DCF.

15-03-2010 05:56PM

Service charge = no tip. Its one or the other, not both.

Noopti · 15-03-2010 05:59PM

I have noticed in a few places (in the U.S) where it says "For parties of 6 or more we add a service charge of 15% onto your bill. Feel free to increase or reduce this as you see fit", which I think is pretty decent. Afterall, if the service isn't good then why should you pay for it?

Naos · 15-03-2010 06:00PM

One or the other if the service is good.

I don't tip if the service is sh1t, what's the point in that?

Similarly, I'd make a bit of a racket if I was forced to pay a service charge when the service was terrible. Actually I just wouldn't pay it.

HalloweenJack · 15-03-2010 06:00PM

I prefer the Dick Solomon method of tipping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1ZZWhSvOMI

OutlawPete · 15-03-2010 06:09PM

I don't tip because society says I have to.

If someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra.

But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds.

As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.

eightyfish · 15-03-2010 06:13PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.

So say you and your partner go for a meal. The food is good, the service is friendly and you have a good time, but nothing beyond expected standard. There is no obligatory service charge. You wouldn't leave a tip?

OutlawPete · 15-03-2010 06:22PM

eightyfish wrote: »

So say you and your partner go for a meal. The food is good, the service is friendly and you have a good time, but nothing beyond expected standard. There is no obligatory service charge. You wouldn't leave a tip?

No, if they don't make enough money, they can quit.

Naos · 15-03-2010 06:23PM

Either that or go block O'Connell Street.

IvySlayer · 15-03-2010 06:38PM

I will not tip someone for doing their job. Only if they went out of their way to do something that wasn't specifically part of their job description.

Why waiters/taxis are only tipped? Do I need the bus driver if he actually arrives early? Do I tip the lads in Spar?

WesternNight · 15-03-2010 06:43PM

It would have to be some kind of outstanding service for them to get a tip as well as the service charge.

OutlawPete · 15-03-2010 06:47PM

IvySlayer wrote: »

I will not tip someone for doing their job. Only if they went out of their way to do something that wasn't specifically part of their job description.

Exactly, I was in a place the other night and I only got two cups of tea.

The waitress walked passed twenty times and wouldn't refill my cup.

Maybe she ws busy but the words "too busy" shouldn't be in a waitress's vocabulary.

Not if they want a tip anyway.

IvySlayer · 15-03-2010 06:51PM

Wow Pete you must be rich, you always seem to out about in cafes

OutlawPete · 15-03-2010 06:53PM

IvySlayer wrote: »

Wow Pete you must be rich, you always seem to out about in cafes

No, just cinema cafes

Spook_ie · 15-03-2010 06:54PM

22 posts before taxi and tips mentioned, you lot must be slipping, I certainly wouldn't tip AH given that shoddy standard

Bonito · 15-03-2010 06:55PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

22 posts before taxi and tips mentioned, you lot must be slipping, I certainly wouldn't tip AH given that shoddy standard

You don't tip AH. AH tips you.

Spook_ie · 15-03-2010 06:56PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Exactly, I was in a place the other night and I only got two cups of tea.

The waitress walked passed twenty times and wouldn't refill my cup.

Maybe she ws busy but the words "too busy" shouldn't be in a waitress's vocabulary.

Not if they want a tip anyway.

Maybe you still had some in the cup? Which do you prefer a forward member of staff who pesters you to have more tea/coffee or a reserved member of staff who wait's until you look around for a refill?

Ruu_Old · 15-03-2010 06:56PM

IvySlayer wrote: »

I will not tip someone for doing their job. Only if they went out of their way to do something that wasn't specifically part of their job description.

Why waiters/taxis are only tipped? Do I need the bus driver if he actually arrives early? Do I tip the lads in Spar?

"Thank you for a pleasant trip, bus driver!" *slip €10 in shirt pocket*

I tip when I'm allowed to eat my food in peace and in good time, not food thrown on the table and someone checking on me every few seconds in any attempt to hurry me out. Food service folk make feck all in the US and majority of them do a great job.

Service charges / tipping in restaurants

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