" Thank you so much! You were great! " handwritten on it

with an absolute crap tip always made my brain hurt.



I had someone give a note to a bartender that I had rolled my eyes at them and I felt incredibly guilty about it for years. I knew exactly what happened. I had a terrible table of frat guys over on the other side of the restaurant, they made a loud commotion and I definitely was looking over at them. I also knew I hadn't given this table amazing service because that group had been so needy. They still tipped well and I hated it. I wanted to apologize in person or something soo bad.

So, sometimes it does even out.

Well, in fairness, kind words aren't the only way for your mouth to buy an 8ball.

As a waiter, you always know you're about to get dicked out of a tip when the table orders waters, extra lemons and sugar for their drinks so they can make free lemonade at the table.

We used to rock, paper, scissors in the kitchen to decide who got those tables.

Some Junkie Cosmonaut said:

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As a waiter, you always know you're about to get dicked out of a tip when the table orders waters, extra lemons and sugar for their drinks so they can make free lemonade at the table.

We used to rock, paper, scissors in the kitchen to decide who got those tables.

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Sounds like my mother-in-law. She's a mid-70's *****y, Karen.

Mrs. TC had to take her to the doctor recently and they went to lunch afterwards and Mrs. TC had to get onto her own mother and tell her she couldn't be such a ***** to people for no reason.

Some Junkie Cosmonaut said:

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As a waiter, you always know you're about to get dicked out of a tip when the table orders waters, extra lemons and sugar for their drinks so they can make free lemonade at the table.

We used to rock, paper, scissors in the kitchen to decide who got those tables.

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Yep! The funny thing is this could apply to a group of older white ladies after church, or a group of black ladies enjoying a Friday night lol.

Panama Red said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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My wife worked at a popular seafood restaurant in the early 90's during nursing school that was frequented by Oilers and Rockets. A couple of leaders on both teams were aware of the stereotype and would bring in black rookies and educate them on dining manners and tipping. She said Lamar Lathon was the best.

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Pappadeaux or Joe's Crab Shack?

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Pappas Seafood House on 59 / Sharpstown.

ea1060 said:

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Some Junkie Cosmonaut said:

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As a waiter, you always know you're about to get dicked out of a tip when the table orders waters, extra lemons and sugar for their drinks so they can make free lemonade at the table.

We used to rock, paper, scissors in the kitchen to decide who got those tables.

---

Yep! The funny thing is this could apply to a group of older white ladies after church, or a group of black ladies enjoying a Friday night lol.

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The way that the staff at my wife's restaurant made up for the inevitable stiffing was to ante into a pot that went to the waiter who served the patron with the "best" hat. Almost 100% of the time the "best" hat on Sunday came from a large table / large bill and minimal tip. Coincidence?

HtownAg92 said:

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Panama Red said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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My wife worked at a popular seafood restaurant in the early 90's during nursing school that was frequented by Oilers and Rockets. A couple of leaders on both teams were aware of the stereotype and would bring in black rookies and educate them on dining manners and tipping. She said Lamar Lathon was the best.

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Pappadeaux or Joe's Crab Shack?

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Pappas Seafood House on 59 / Sharpstown.

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My grandparents went there regularly until all the pimps running their hoes in the bar made them move to Houston's on Kirby.

I think the other shoe is about to drop on the restaurant industry. Inflation has yet to really hit the restaurants I've been too. I think later this year prices are going to increase and with the crappy service lately, people will curtail their dining out.

AggieLumberjack said:

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I think the other shoe is about to drop on the restaurant industry. Inflation has yet to really hit the restaurants I've been too. I think later this year prices are going to increase and with the crappy service lately, people will curtail their dining out.

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It's already happened.

Higher end places will be fine because their clientele can afford it.

AggieLumberjack said:

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I think the other shoe is about to drop on the restaurant industry. Inflation has yet to really hit the restaurants I've been too. I think later this year prices are going to increase and with the crappy service lately, people will curtail their dining out.

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I honestly dont think so. Like my old restaurant manager used to say, "Even in bad times, people will still go out to eat and drink." There is always something to celebrate: bday, wedding, date night, anniversary, promotion, bachelorette party, Friday night etc.

I waited tables during the height of the 2008-2009 recession (with inflation), and the restaurant I worked at was always packed. It wasn't just my restaurant either, most restaurants were packed in Houston.

swimmerbabe11 said:

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If you don't want to tip, go to a fast food place, cook at home, or get carry out.
There are plenty of options.


.

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As others have said.. If a " Tip" is automatically added it is then no longer a tip it is a charge.
I have no issues tipping and no issues tipping 15-20% or more depending on the restaurant and service…but an automatic 20% tip for 2 people is BS.
Like any other job.. you take the good with the bad.
There are no guarantees in life

I'm not a fan of auto grat either, but I get why it exists.

If your clientele isn't paying your servers, they'll go somewhere else to work. If you can't staff your restaurant, you aren't a restaurant..just a food stand for carryout.

swimmerbabe11 said:

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I'm not a fan of auto grat either, but I get why it exists.

If your clientele isn't paying your servers, they'll go somewhere else to work. If you can't staff your restaurant, you aren't a restaurant..just a food stand for carryout.

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And if you run off customers due to automatic tip you don't have a business any longer… it goes both ways

Again as in any line of work.. you take the good with the bad.

cypress-ag said:

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I've struggled these days buying a few Bottles of good wine and while out and thinking about the amount of effort the waiter put into opening a bottle and providing a glass and then tipping on $150 for that service.

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So… it's the 15-20% gratuity that stalls you out… but not the 250% markup that you are paying for the pleasure of them uncorking the bottle in the establishment itself?

It's both, but yes it's the restaurant markup that's the bigger piece, for me at least. Let's say I have a $100 bottle of wine at home. That wine will likely cost $300 at a restaurant. I'm then supposed to tip another $60 for it?

htxag09 said:

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It's both, but yes it's the restaurant markup that's the bigger piece, for me at least. Let's say I have a $100 bottle of wine at home. That wine will likely cost $300 at a restaurant. I'm then supposed to tip another $60 for it?

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Yes you are. Thats the system we set up here where the guy who recommends you food, takes your order, and does everything he can to make you feel like royalty only makes $2.13 per hour from his employer. I agree popping a bottle of wine open isn't a $60 task. But at a good restaurant its his job to know about all of the wines and drinks they do have and help steer you to the right direction to make your meal as perfect as possible. You may not feel thats worth $60. I know I don't. But its the "tax" we pay for being waited on.

If any podcast listeners want to dig deeper into the topic with the Freakonomics people, here are a couple of really interesting episodes. The second includes some data from the first

2016 - No Tipping Point.
https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-no-tipping-point/

2019 - Why Does Tipping Still Exist
https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-does-tipping-still-exist-ep-396/

do yall sew your own clothes too? or source them straight from the factory?

cajunaggie08 said:

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htxag09 said:

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It's both, but yes it's the restaurant markup that's the bigger piece, for me at least. Let's say I have a $100 bottle of wine at home. That wine will likely cost $300 at a restaurant. I'm then supposed to tip another $60 for it?

---

Yes you are. Thats the system we set up here where the guy who recommends you food, takes your order, and does everything he can to make you feel like royalty only makes $2.13 per hour from his employer. I agree popping a bottle of wine open isn't a $60 task. But at a good restaurant its his job to know about all of the wines and drinks they do have and help steer you to the right direction to make your meal as perfect as possible. You may not feel thats worth $60. I know I don't. But its the "tax" we pay for being waited on.

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I don't disagree with anything you said. I know all this ahead of time, why I choose byob restaurants a lot. But where does this stop? Not long ago a tip for just doing your job was 10%, 15% was good. Now people expect 20% when I order at a counter and pick up the food myself after they call my name.

I feel like waiters/waitresses have done a good job of playing their hand on social media.

ATM9000 said:

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cypress-ag said:

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I've struggled these days buying a few Bottles of good wine and while out and thinking about the amount of effort the waiter put into opening a bottle and providing a glass and then tipping on $150 for that service.

---

So… it's the 15-20% gratuity that stalls you out… but not the 250% markup that you are paying for the pleasure of them uncorking the bottle in the establishment itself?

---

Do you flip out over the same markup on a glass of bourbon or cocktail at the same establishment?

Personally, I don't have the time or energy to devote to keeping track of what is good wine and what isn't. What's a good year or not. So when I go to Spec's or Total Wine or a wine bar or a nice dinner at a place with a sommelier I tell them what I like in a wine, what I'm planning on pairing it with, and the budget and let them make the choice. I've never been steered wrong doing this.

I think that service is worth a few bucks for sure.

This thread is now scraping the bottom of the barrel even by Texags standards. Whining about having to tip a sommelier is one of the most pathetic try-hard "I'm rich but I have problems" trolls I've ever seen. Guarantee the people whining about it on here never have to worry about it in real life. And if you do, stfu and go to Applebees.

What are some good BYOB restaurants? The only ones I know of are Collinas, Dream Wings, Vieng Thai. Pizzaros used to be but they sell beer at their new locations.

Haven't been in a long time, but Lucio's on Taft used to be a fantastic BYOB restaurant.

ea1060 said:

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AggieLumberjack said:

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I think the other shoe is about to drop on the restaurant industry. Inflation has yet to really hit the restaurants I've been too. I think later this year prices are going to increase and with the crappy service lately, people will curtail their dining out.

---

I honestly dont think so. Like my old restaurant manager used to say, "Even in bad times, people will still go out to eat and drink." There is always something to celebrate: bday, wedding, date night, anniversary, promotion, bachelorette party, Friday night etc.

I waited tables during the height of the 2008-2009 recession (with inflation), and the restaurant I worked at was always packed. It wasn't just my restaurant either, most restaurants were packed in Houston.

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plus people in general are too stupid and lazy to cook very much at home. many people just don't know how and don't take the initiative to learn. so the cheap fast food options will keep thriving, IMO

TarponChaser said:

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ATM9000 said:

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cypress-ag said:

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I've struggled these days buying a few Bottles of good wine and while out and thinking about the amount of effort the waiter put into opening a bottle and providing a glass and then tipping on $150 for that service.

---

So… it's the 15-20% gratuity that stalls you out… but not the 250% markup that you are paying for the pleasure of them uncorking the bottle in the establishment itself?

---

Do you flip out over the same markup on a glass of bourbon or cocktail at the same establishment?

Personally, I don't have the time or energy to devote to keeping track of what is good wine and what isn't. What's a good year or not. So when I go to Spec's or Total Wine or a wine bar or a nice dinner at a place with a sommelier I tell them what I like in a wine, what I'm planning on pairing it with, and the budget and let them make the choice. I've never been steered wrong doing this.

I think that service is worth a few bucks for sure.

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just go with your gut and pick one of the dozen cleverly labeled $30 California blends marked up to $100.

You don't need some skeezy sommelier with a pencil thin mustache to recommend whatever swill they haven't been able to move.

Another reason to eat at Sonic.

bularry said:

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ea1060 said:

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AggieLumberjack said:

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I think the other shoe is about to drop on the restaurant industry. Inflation has yet to really hit the restaurants I've been too. I think later this year prices are going to increase and with the crappy service lately, people will curtail their dining out.

---

I honestly dont think so. Like my old restaurant manager used to say, "Even in bad times, people will still go out to eat and drink." There is always something to celebrate: bday, wedding, date night, anniversary, promotion, bachelorette party, Friday night etc.

I waited tables during the height of the 2008-2009 recession (with inflation), and the restaurant I worked at was always packed. It wasn't just my restaurant either, most restaurants were packed in Houston.

---

plus people in general are too stupid and lazy to cook very much at home. many people just don't know how and don't take the initiative to learn. so the cheap fast food options will keep thriving, IMO

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The shoe dropping is widespread acceptance of nearly universal take-out / delivery. Waitstaff will continue getting squeezed.

Used to be that case that eating out was a growing trend because people didn't know how to cook. Now you don't even have to eat out. Just uber/doordash/etc & some rando will bring it right to your house, to he bar, to your pool party, etc. People aren't going to cook much more if/when economy tanks, they are just going to max out disposable income on delivery fees.

When I was a kid, mom would plan out the errands for the day/week by how to get to points a, b, c in the least amount of drive time. Now we can all sit on our asses all day and pay $5 for people to bring us lunch, dog food, groceries, new clothes, ammo, etc. Very odd full circle that delivery drivers are a big thing again. I saw a Schwann's truck in the 'hood the other day & I'm like who the hell still gets that stuff delivered?? But oh wait ... we all do ... it just comes in different trucks now.

swimmerbabe11 said:

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do yall sew your own clothes too? or source them straight from the factory?

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No....but I also don't tip the employee at whatever store I'm buying them at when I ask where a particular shirt or whee the men's section is either. I don't tip the cashier for ringing me out and putting my clothes in a bag.

You are trying way too hard here.

I suppose that is one of the perks of living out in the country - we don't get food delivery in my hood. Too far out, not enough local restaurants offer the service because of our location.

So I cook, quite a bit. And I enjoy it, so that is a nice bonus.

But I do enjoy a nice restaurant with a server that knows when to be at the table and when not to be at the table and one that doesn't add an automatic fee on the tab.

I also enjoy the occasional fast food and slumming it at the local Chilis type of places as well, because hell, they aren't all that bad either for the most part.

drumboy said:

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What are some good BYOB restaurants? The only ones I know of are Collinas, Dream Wings, Vieng Thai. Pizzaros used to be but they sell beer at their new locations.

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Aladdins Mediterranean, Tex Chick (only puerto rican restaurant ITL).

bularry said:

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ea1060 said:

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AggieLumberjack said:

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I think the other shoe is about to drop on the restaurant industry. Inflation has yet to really hit the restaurants I've been too. I think later this year prices are going to increase and with the crappy service lately, people will curtail their dining out.

---

I honestly dont think so. Like my old restaurant manager used to say, "Even in bad times, people will still go out to eat and drink." There is always something to celebrate: bday, wedding, date night, anniversary, promotion, bachelorette party, Friday night etc.

I waited tables during the height of the 2008-2009 recession (with inflation), and the restaurant I worked at was always packed. It wasn't just my restaurant either, most restaurants were packed in Houston.

---

plus people in general are too stupid and lazy to cook very much at home. many people just don't know how and don't take the initiative to learn. so the cheap fast food options will keep thriving, IMO

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100% agree.

Some Junkie Cosmonaut said:

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As a waiter, you always know you're about to get dicked out of a tip when the table orders waters, extra lemons and sugar for their drinks so they can make free lemonade at the table.

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This is the truest thing ever spoken about waiting tables.

This table will also get angry when they cannot swap out their house salad or French fries for more shrimp.

ea1060 said:

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drumboy said:

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What are some good BYOB restaurants? The only ones I know of are Collinas, Dream Wings, Vieng Thai. Pizzaros used to be but they sell beer at their new locations.

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Aladdins Mediterranean, Tex Chick (only puerto rican restaurant ITL).

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Solid take out joints.

Baptist Church Groups we're the worst! We used to autograt anything over 6. It was 25% but we only got 18 the house took 7 which sucked because if you do a big party right

We would did one of two things with known non tippers 1) autograt 2) refused to split checks (that way deacon John or brother Jones had to look like an ******* when he shorted it)