what % do you tip at an IHOP or Dennys?

Opinionated guy wrote:

I tip pretty high from a percentage standpoint, especially somewhere like Denny's or IHOP. I have always found it strange that a tip is based on the amount of the bill as though those at expensive restaurants work harder.

I repsect that someone is doing a tough job to support themselves rather than be on the dole. Although I am not rich, I am comfortable enough to know that the server will appreciate and use the extra few dollars far more than me and by next week I will not know the difference or miss the money in any way.

Ditto for me.

Also, maybe I've just been really lucky, but I don't think I've ever had bad service at a restaurant. For you guys who have left minimal or no tips due to bad service, what constituted bad service?

For a few years I was travelling pretty heavily for the company. I would tip heavily on the company card. I'd give over a %100 tip if I was just grabbing a hamburger and salad for supper. You do that once or twice and the waitresses remember you and the quality of service goes up.

Most people do not know that servers are taxed based on expected tips on the amount of sales they make. They are expected to average 15% tips based on sales. The government taxes 8.5% of sales. If you leave less than that amount the server has to pay it out of their wage. This is why restaurants add a 16.5% gratuity to the bill.

Depends if the waitress is hot/nice or not.

This thread question was valid in the 90s. For the last decade, where I live, these two establishments are a joke. Not even legitimate enough to be discussing. Replace them with a spectrum of legitimate half decent corporate chains or regional or locally popular good quality diner hotspots. The answer will range from a more stingy conservative version of the nuanced answers here. Some answers here are way too high.

That's crazy, over here they make minimum wage just as any other job (has to be on or above minimum wage, e.g. working in a car park), working in a restaurant or bar is no different. Tips are extra on top, like a bonus, hence tipping is very different over here.

I don't really like the idea they're taxed based on expected tips. Doesn't seem right.

I give them a card for my church and tell them "you'll get your reward in heaven."

Bang wrote:

20% everywhere no matter if service was lame or not because sometimes the tips get split with the back of the house employees as well/working in a restaurant is hard work.

This. 20% is just a bit more than the new 17% "standard" and it's easy to mentally calculate. And my race has a reputation of being tightwads so I try to change the perception peoplenhave of our tipping practices.

15% for really crappy service since others share the tip.

assuming the service is normal, in a low cost place like that I'll tip 30% or more - I mean it's just a few dollars, it makes me feel good and the servers work hard for their money.

in an expensive restaurant I actually tip lower than most, tho.

I tip them exactly the same amount as I get tipped for doing my job.

I tip about 50%. I stand by the door for hours at a time and tell about half the people they probably should try the vegetarian restaurant next door.

heart attack wrote:

On those unfortunate occasions where you eat there, what % do YOU tip?

IHOP sucks, so I hope to never eat there again. 20% would be tipped there though unless the waitress/waiter was outrageously bad.

Denny's is typically great, especially if you get the grand slamwich. 20%+ there assuming a normal level of greatness. Their pancakes are worlds better that IHOP too.

depends on the bill

$7 or less: 2 bucks

$7-17: 3 bucks

18 and above: 18%

add $1 for great service but honestly, the dominations are so small that it's hard to discriminate between good and bad service when paying cash. Service would have to be terrible with intent to warrant taking $1 off the above numbers. I don't tip zero unless someone throws food at me or insults a family member because then you are actually taking money out of their pocket because of the taxed tip issue.

honestly, i think tips need to go. just pay them a real wage already.

$5 minimum and 20-30% rounded up. Don’t leave change, chumps

But I’m not rubbing nickels together like the collegiate crowd

Often up to 30% if it was a cheap breakfast. Labor involved doesn't scale with the cost of the food. Don't be a cheapass.

randomcoach wrote:

The academic Hobo wrote:

The same I tip at any restaurant.

10% for awful service

Can you explain this to me? I usually tip well but if my service is awful I tip 0.

Wow, really? Obviously you have never worked in food service.

My peeps don't tip.

Sniff, I prefer the Waffle House.