IF YOU GO OUT TO EAT: READ THIS!!

As I enter back into the world of waiting tables- it been about 7 months, which is a long time for me- I enter back into the world which my income depends on the generosity of others. It seems to be me about half of the lovely people I know have worked in the service industry at some point. And then there is the rest of you- those incredible people who somehow missed out by getting marketing internships, became a teacher directly after going to college, or those of you who just got their shit together way before the rest of us. While this blog post was written for you to read, it was really written in celebration of the badass restaurants folks that I have had the pleasure to meet over the years.  I have to admit that the restaurant industry has been incredibly good to me- and that is why I have stayed around. It allows me to travel, work with interesting, outgoing, multitalented people, make money pretty quickly, and most importantly teaches me how to be humble enough to serve someone that might treat you like dirt. That being said, we are depending on your tip to make a living. I have heard many of my non-restaurant worker friends complain that our system is just screwed up and that owners should pay workers living wages instead of expecting tips. I have also heard the argument from many fellow servers that automatic gratuity should be included on all checks. While I understand this logic, my concern with these theories is that the service you get will decline.

 You have amazing power to give monetary feedback about your experience and a good server always takes that pretty seriously.
Do not be one of those notorious people that tells your server "Wow this is the best service I have ever had" and leave a 10%tip. This is confusing and frustrating. Kindness goes a long way- but it rarely pays the rent. So I thought I would put together an honest and accurate guideline for tipping, shown below.

Guidelines and Expectations for tipping:
(Obviously you cannot expect the same level of service at a dive bar and a fine dining restaurant, use your judgement people!)
20%+ tips=Your server is knowledgeable and accommodating, they make eye contact, they make you feel comfortable but are not invasive, they are friendly but not overly flirty, they are quick but not frantic, they are genuine. They gave you great service even if you did not spend a lot of money. You will come back and bring your friends and request that server.
18+% Your server's actions were satisfactory- they did a good job but did not blow you away. They were efficient. You did not need to ask for anything and they were nice. Perhaps they were just too busy to give you 100% but they did their best. You will go back.
15% Your server was pretty good most of the time but left you hanging after they realized you were not going spend a lot of money. You server was a little bit inattentive. You went to a buffet where the server only cleared your plates and handed you the check. You might come back.
10% They were absent, rude or completely sucked. You are never going back.

As a diner - here are a few things to think about:
-Do not get mad at the hostess because there were only early or late reservations available. If a couple makes a reservation at 7 pm they cannot seat another couple at the table reserved after 5 or 5:30 pm to assure the spot will be open. They are not trying to screw you over, they are controlling the flow of the restaurant.
- If your food took forever and the server apologized about it (which they should always do) 65% of the time, something might of gone wrong in the kitchen. So there is a large chance that it is not your server's fault and you should not tip them any less. When you tip them less it creates conflict between servers and kitchen staff.
-On that note, people who work in kitchens are probably the most underpaid hardest working people in the world. Give them your praise. They bust their asses in a hot atmosphere, work long hours, and are subject to burns and bruises.  If you get the chance to buy them a beer- do it!!
-Guys: if you are going out to eat please do not expect the female servers to flirt with you or give them your number. Go to a strip club.
-Always consider that the busser, bartender and other service staff are being partially paid by the server- which in the industry in called "tipping out"- so if you leave them $15 bucks they are probably only leaving with $10.
-Do not come in to eat a 3 course meal at 9:55 when the restaurant closes at 10. Their is a large chance that the kitchen, bar and service staff will resent you. There is hours of work to be done that cannot be started until every customer leaves.
- As a manager, it is great to hear feedback, both negative and positive. Ask for the manager if you have a problem- they are the people that can definitely do something to change your for the better. Managers hate when someone complains on Yelp about terrible service or terrible food but no one ever complained in person.

Happy Valentines Day! Share the love!