Think of the last time went out to eat at a fine dining restaurant. Your host was pleasant, kept your wait to a minimum, and sat you at a clean, elegant table. Your server graciously suggested the featured food and drinks, and was timely in bringing you everything you needed. Then your meal was ready, and presented before you, mouth-watering and smelling divine. After enjoying every bite, you left the establishment, happy and satisfied.
Did you ever think of the handful of one dollar bills and loose change you left for your server? Many do not consider it at all, and the disappointed server, whose job it is to wait on you hand and foot, is severely demoralized and wonders why he even bothers to continue their line of work. Others simply toss a random amount of dollars on the table, not considering the fact that "minimum wage" for a server (at this time) is $2.13 per hour. A select few are more than generous, tipping a considerable amount and reminding their server that theirs is a worthwhile job, rewarding and worth continuing.
Here are some important points to remember when determining how much to tip your server:
Servers are people too. They are hardworking individuals with bills and families. They are doing the best they can to give you the best experience possible. Some days this task is easier than others. If your table is a "high-maintenence" table (i.e. requesting multiple items at different times, special orders that the server must accurately relay to the cooks, etc.) then you should consider increasing your tip amount. There are also outside influences to consider. The server may have multiple tables requesting different things that require her to go to different areas of the restaurant, considerably slowing her response time. The kitchen may be taking an exceptionally long time in preparing your food, something which the server has no control over. Plus, he may have received disturbing news prior to coming into work that day, which can considerably diminish his response time and overall demeanor. Servers are human, plain and simple. They are not slaves, nor robots. Remember that when you pull out your wallet.
Servers depend on your tips to survive. They make well below minimum wage. Your tips provide food for their families, gas for their car, and a roof over their heads. Imagine if you had to work on tips, at your current job. No hourly paycheck, no commissions, just a random amount of money based on what your customers thought of you. Especially considering that first impressions are made within 30 seconds of meeting someone, would you be able to survive on tips? Remember that if you decide to tip low, out of self-importance or greed, you could very well be shutting off their electricity this month.
Servers have little to no control over the speed and quality of your food. There are occasions where food is so inedible that anyone with eyes can see that fact. However, much of the time, the difference between medium and medium-well steak is not as apparent. If your food is not palatable, politely inform your server of the situation, and what you would like done about it. Remember that it is not their fault, they are at the whim of the cook who prepares it. Far better that you explain to the manager that the cook did not prepare your food to your satisfaction, and remember to still give something to your server who handled your concern professionally and promptly.
There are occasions when it is justified to lower the amount of your tip. When your server is inattentive, chatting instead of fulfilling your requests, or rude, feel free to lower your tip accordingly. The main thing to remember is that, without your server, your fine meal would not have been possible.