OK, I could rant and rave ALL DAY on this topic. I’ve been in the restaurant business for a long time and the different races/ethnicities/genders/ages don’t tip equally. They may tip equally in other areas, or even at fine-dining restaurants, but not in casual dining restaurants. There are a lot of decent to good tippers out there, but don’t get me started on which races/ethnicities/genders/ages, etc. don’t tip (in casual dining restaurants, anyway). Believe me, it’s true, certain races/ethnicities/genders/ages, etc. tip horribly, if at all, and what’s really bad is that you can determine it 80-90% of the time. I don’t know if they are ignorant, or just don’t care. If you don’t believe in tipping, work in a restaurant for a month and see if you don’t change your mind. (Had that happen to a server I knew. See used to tip 10% until she started waiting tables, now tips 20%). Tip 20% or Drive-through or get it To-Go (however, the To-Go person appreciates a little something, especially if they have to walk out-side in the cold and/or rain to bring out your food! They usually just make minimum wage). Oh, and by the way: If you go to a restaurant that does NOT include the gratuity (tip) for large parties (ASK if your not sure!!!) and you don’t tip, the server basically paid you to eat. (And sometimes they are near tears in frustration because they spent their time and energy on you for $3.13 per hour and don’t want to wait on you, or any other parties, again). BE CONSIDERATE, DON’T BE STINGY AND ASK FOR YOUR PALTRY 3 CENTS BACK, AND DON’T BE A MORON! That server had to tip out the busser and bartender (even if you didn’t get drinks) on your total bill. If you have 25 people and run up a $300 tab, the server just paid $6.00 in tip-out for you to eat. (BTW, It should be a $60 tip for those of you who can’t do basic math and there are calculators in phones these days, use those!) It may be the only tip they recieve their whole shift because of time taken with the large party. That is the only money that server is making if they are spending all their time on you. Most of them are college students and single parents and live off of your generosity!!!!! IF YOU DON’T WANT TO TIP, don’t come in. If you can’t tip, then you don’t have enough money to eat in a restaurant, or at the least, order water so you’ll have money for the tip. And while I’m on the subject, if you had GREAT service, told the server you loved them, told the manager how great they were, but tip them $5 on a $100 tab, this is an insult. (Should be $20. Hell, you just spent $100 on food, $5 on the “tip”. I’m sure you can reach in your pocket and pull out another $15). Just so you know… If you don’t agree with the practice, yell at the Federal Gov’t and the restaurants, but don’t screw the server. The gov’t is the one who allows $3.02 per hour deduction to be subtracted from the minimum wage of that state. For example, NC is $6.15 per hour. Subtract the $3.02 per hour and a server is being paid $3.13 per hour. Hey, when the minimum wage goes up to $7.15 per hour, servers/bussers will be paid $4.13 per hour! Woohoo! BTW, if restaurants paid the servers more per hour, the food prices would just go up, anyway, so it would be equal. If the service isn’t good, chances are that there are situations you don’t realize (short-handed, etc.). Most of time, the server gets great feedback, and then there will be one bad day, and they’ll get complaints. Talk to a manager, they may be able to help, but don’t take it out on your server. Most of them really want you to have a good experience!!!! After all, they make their living that way. Also, if the food was taken off because it was wrong/cold/didn’t like it, etc. please give your server something! That stuff is beyond their control and they just spent their time and table on you that they could have gotten a tip on from someone else. Hell, tip them bigger, you got free food for crying out loud, you jerks!!!! Also, when you are done eating, leave!!! Go have your conversations somewhere else. The server loses money while you sit there, unless you are considerate enough and leave extra money for the extra time you sit there. The server will love you. Also realize the server usually has more than one table. They are usually required to run food, stock ice/plates, etc. and can’t be there every second for you. Be patient!! For any other information, this website is a good one: 86badtips.com (and, no, I don’t run it or know the people who do. I just agree with them.) Take care and remember your servers! At least the hairdresser gets paid more than minimum wage! If you tip them, you can tip your server. Here’s to great tips!!!