Tipping question:

[1monster]

A friend and business associate of mine and I had lunch together the other day. Since we had a lot to discuss, we stayed close to an hour and a half.

Since I knew that the waitress could probably have had another seating at the table in the time she served us, I left her a ten dollar tip on a $30 ticket (including tax) which came to about a 35% gratutity.

Was it enough? Or should I have left more?

[denbot]

1. I would question that tip only if the seating was very limited.

If her station was limited, then she may have lost a little income on a 25% tip. At 35% she may well have broke even or better, and (hopefully) had less running around to do.

[1monster]

2. Thanks.

[Chan790]

3. As a former server, I'd have been happy with that.

It's been my experience that table-campers (not to say you're table-camping...but you seemed to think you were, tying up a table for 2 hours during lunch.), in addition to tying up a table that I could be earning an additional tip on, tend to be terrible tippers in their own right. You don't know hell until you get $5 on a table for 4 people who had bottomless coffee (about 6 cups each, none of whom could get coffee on the same trip as any other), split a piece of pie and tied up a table during a busy lunch rush from noon-3PM. They bickered for 20 minutes of that 3 hours over whether $5 was too much since the total tab was $7. I begged the manager to let me comp out of my pocket them if I could also ask them to leave.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Make sure they're asleep before you sneak up on them.

[nolabear]

5. *snort!*

Mooooooo...thud!

[jasond54231]

6. I'd say your tip was pretty generous

In general, most diners at a restaurant tend to leave about a 15-20% tip. I usually tip 25%, since I know from experience how difficult being a waiter/waitress can be.

[steve2470]

7. I'd say it was an excellent tip nt

[blogslut]

8. 10 on 30 is tremendous

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. As having been a waiter in the past, I'd be more than happy with that.

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However, when I dine out as a customer, I do not care what my bill is . . .

If the waiter/waitress service is lousy,

they get nothing for a tip.

CC

ps: As a waiter I got good tips, I was both attentive and friendly -

not approaching their table until I saw they were just about out of food or drinks.

[mulsh]

10. When I stay for over an hour and a half at a table I tip at least 30% usually more.

I have a good friend I go to lunch with about once a week and we normally end up camping at a table, we try to hit after lunch rushes. But since we're mostly in SF its hard to anticipate when the lunch rush is and only fair to give the servers a generous tip. We at some places we'll slip the bus person a separate tip since they're the ones bringing us water and extras.

[dr.strangelove]

11. Well thought out and appropriate tip

I was a long time server and bartender in the afternoon shift. If it is busy, kidnapping a lunch table can cost a server quite a bit. Giving a generous tip can help make up for it. Its nice that you thought of the server and I am sure he/she appreciated it.

[walkerbait41]

12. We always tip 30%

No matter what the bill is. If the food is bad and we have good service the waitress get`s her tip. If the service is bad but the food is good we give it to the cook.