Please always tip at least 15%, regardless of the service.

[anneboleyn]

92. I worked as a waitress. We ALWAYS leave 25%. I know what it's like to work in food service

and the unbelievable amount of mental and physical work it involves plus constant issues with customers who cross various lines -- I know our servers need and deserve a decent tip. 20% is the base standard these days (15% was the standard when I was a waitress in the 90s). So we tip 25% (and on occasions even more) regularly based on my own experiences with this incredibly difficult and draining work.

I worked in a nice, mid-level "chic/gourmet but accessible to families" type of restaurant in a wealthy area of a city when I was in college as an undergrad in the 90s. The physical labor and mental stress in addition to the amount of sexual harassment/unwanted attention from customers could be overwhelming at times. I also know what it feels like to get "stiffed" and to deal with massively demanding customers who then leave a small tip (but expect perfect service and extra attention when they come in -- we never understood these people and no one liked to wait on them). I certainly depended on that money for food and rent as otherwise I was earning only minumum wage (many of my fellow workers had families to support -- I was lucky that I was only working for myself), and I was frequently shocked by the level of callous and indifferent treatment we received from people who should have known better.

Now my husband and I can leave a good tip, and if we experience problems with our food, etc we speak to a manager. We do not EVER "stiff" servers or leave less than 25%.