Do you usually Tip on top of the bill when you eat out?

I haven't read the entire thread and the OP hasn't come back. But I am more concerned that a nice meal for at least 3 people (based on her phraseology) came to £55 and the OP says that's not cheap.

Depends. When we were sofa surfing we had to eat out to get a hot meal and every penny counted, wasn't expensive places eg weather soons, local fish and chips etc. How we slightly better off for cakes etc no I wont, possibly for a meal. We won't returning to one place as they added service to the bill. If I tip I tip what I want. I remember tipping one place as the waiter went out of his way to sort something. Saying that we rarely go out now we not sofa surfing as it's a pleasure to actually be able to cook for yourself. Before we had too or else it be cold sandwiches again. Surprised how many say they tip on here automatically. Don't think been out for a meal since pre covid now though .. sandwiches, jacket potatoes at lunchtime yes. Does that count. Last time was the local garden centre and no tipping expected and they were lovely helpful staff.

I think it depends on the place you are eating, a lot of places now you go up to the bar to order food and also order/fetch your own drinks, in that case I think tipping 10% for a £50 meal is abit much if all they have done in bring the plates of food out. In a restaurant where the orders are taken at the table, the server comes to check if you are ok, when drinks etc then a tip should be given unless the service has been really poor

I just don't get this
It just doesn't make sense in this day and age (assuming you're in the UK!)
We have a minimum wage of £11.44 an hour for adults.
Why are some of us worthy a tip but not others?!
It's an outdated notion that doesn't translate well nowadays.
It's also a bit patronising and Lady Bountiful throwing a few extra crumbs for a job well done, bravo you. Head pat...

Not if there's service on the bill
If no service charge, I'd tip for a meal, less likely for a snack

Don't tip, everything has rocketed in price, especially things like eating out. And while I luckily earn more than minimum wage, there are people who eat out who are paid the same minimum wage as the people serving them, why should they feel obligate through peer pressure to tip people who earn the same as them for doing their job.

I generally do unless already added but I usually double check who gets the tip.

One of my kids worked somewhere where the manager pocketed all the tips as my daughter was on probation. This isn't unusual.

In independent places, always, and generously.

Chains...I might round up or leave a small tip but I'm far less inclined to do so because I feel if the restaurant can afford to have multiple premises then (1) it can afford to pay its staff more and (2) they are likely to have buying power for better benefits.

I tip because I feel under social pressure to, but tbh I begrudge it and it puts me off eating out as prices are overinflated as it is, so the value isn't there. I'd rather get a takeaway, pay normal prices for our own drinks and no tips and no waiting around for slow service or stingy portions of tap water.

@easylikeasundaymorn - a lot of us worked in the service sector when younger and remember what it was like.

I think a lot of people who tip just do it because it's expected or because they care about what the people they are dining with think of them. Crowd followers.

They can never explain why it's so tight and embarrassing not to tip restaurant staff BUT completely fine not to tip amazon delivery drivers, HCPs, teaching assistants, bar staff, coffee shop baristas, shop assistants, call centre staff, cleaners....all of whom also work hard and only get paid minimum wage....

The only difference is usually in those cases their friends aren't watching them being lady bountiful so without the kudos they don't bother...

Why should waiting staff (or any staff come to that) have to put up with awful customers? Why also would it be acceptable to be a foul customer just as long as the tip money is 'right'? How much money would make it ok to be a twattish customer? That is a truly grim thought that restaurants would effectively pimp out their staff like this instead of getting rid of those 'customers'.

Most people do not behaviour boorishly towards any staff and that's as it should be. The job is worth what it's worth and it's up to employers to step up and make sure their employees' are paid an actual living wage rather than pass that on to the customers via a hit and miss 'custom'.

The sooner that minimum wage becomes a living wage for everyone and tipping stops, the better. If that means that some dodgy places close down then perhaps that's for the best.

If there's a service charge then no. Maybe if the service is exceptional but mostly £2

For us is when my husband told the waitress about his food allergy a kitchen manager came out and checked every item my husband ordered. He wanted seafood which he never orders but they made sure there was no citrus in the meal. They even checked his dessert. That is good service to us

No. I don’t always tip. If there’s a service charge I ask for it to be taken off and leave a tip if I feel it’s warranted. In cash.

Good service I will always tip and tip generously. Always in cash. But we so rarely get good service now k often don’t. And by good service all I mean is efficient, a bit of a smile, eye contact and a quick “sorry let me sort it” if something is wrong.

Unless service charge is already added I would tip around 10%
We usually round it up
If service is exceptional I will sometimes pay on top of service charge or more than the 10%, but check that it’s actually going direct to the person

What do you think about friends who "decide" how much to tip? Happened recently with some friends of Dh's. "Everyone leaves 5£ OK?" I thought that was cheeky, but not my friends so I didn't say anything..

Unless the service is truly exceptional, then no. As others have said, there’s a minimum wage now so no need to tip. It’s crazy to tip someone for doing their job.

I always tell them to remove the service charge as well. If the owners or managers want to bleed their customers dry they should initiate their prices in the food costs in their menu’s to effectively include the service charge. But they don’t, because they know full well most people would rather (reluctantly) pay it instead of ‘making a fuss’.

Everywhere i eat has service charge now at 12.5% minimum.
I don't tip on top of service charge.

To be fair it’s a very different culture in France and they generally don’t expect tips (or at least nothing more than a couple of €). We went out to eat yesterday and we were waiting about 30 minutes just to have our drinks order taken. They don’t badger you like they do in the UK. If you want something you ask for it, and they don’t mind keeping you waiting. If we had similar levels of service in the UK we’d never tip. We’d be horrified! I actually prefer it. You never feel pressured here to leave quickly as soon as you’ve finished eating.

I'm currently in France. Not been here in a long time and the tipping culture seems to have completely changed. Now 'service compris' is the norm, but I can't help myself adding a few euros.

Yeah it's brought out all the snobs looking down on the rest of us who are lucky to be able to afford the meal out.

Wow it's like a different world on here sometimes.. how the other half live.

Agree. I’m nearly 60 and tipping always been the norm in my lifetime.

In fact I think people tipped more generously back in the 70’s/80’s/90’s than they do now. My parents always tipped about 15% and no they weren’t wealthy - eating out was a irregular treat

Always, unless it's a self serve/order at the bar place (and if they bring the food out I still leave a little). But a proper restaurant I always tip, though I notice more places are adding it in for you.
I judge people who don't as mean.