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I have served tables in restaurants and have delivered pizzas for many years. Most people do not know the correct amount to tip. For a job well done in a restaurant 15-20% is correct. Servers make below minimum wage and in most restaurants a percentage is automatically taxed; if the server received a tip at that table or not. Also, in many restaurants the servers must give a percentage to the bartender, even if no drinks were ordered from the bar. If the customer has special needs and has the server running back and forth, more would be appreciated. Servers will remember a customer the next time that they come in the restaurant. Sometimes errors do occur with orders, but it is usually because of mistakes in the kitchen and the server is punished with a reduced tip. Delivery is complicated for tipping. Pizza delivery drivers make minimum wage and a percentage for gas reimbursement usually based on the dollar amount of the orders. The average tip per delivery is usually two dollars. That is fine if one can get in and out. Unfortunately, delivery drivers are forced to wait while people find their wallets, purses, coupons etc. While a driver is waiting for an unprepared customer, the food for the next delivery is getting cold in the car and the next customer must wait for their food. The next customer will be unhappy. The delivery person loses money by having to wait and by having to deal with unhappy customers who tip less or not at all. If a driver must wait or there are special requests, a larger tip is appropriate. If a customer is a great distance from the restaurant it would be appropriate to tip extra. Customers should access how much work was done as well as the customer service that they received from the service employee and tip accordingly.

Learn more about this author, Cynthia Denardo.
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