Tipping in America (Gratuities When Eating In Restaurants, Coffeeshops, etc)

Here is an American cultural topic that you'll need to know for the summer and one that confuses many non-Americans who live here. That issue is tipping or giving gratuities to waitresses, waiters, people who serve food, and counter people.

Tipping is not that complex if you remember a few basic things.

• In a restaurant, diner or what have you where there is table service tip 15% for lunch and 20% of the before tax bill for dinner ALWAYS. If you can't afford to offer this gratuity, it's best not to eat in the restaurant or diner.

• In a coffeshop or donut shop or bakery or somewhere similar, where the food is "takeout" (in other words you take the food from the deli, pizza place, bakery, or what have you and eat it at home) and the server is a person who works the counter, a dollar is usually appropriate for most orders and two dollars for a bigger order.
  

• HOWEVER, THESE KINDS OF TIPS FOR COUNTER HELP ARE GIVEN IF YOU CHOOSE. THIS DIFFERS FROM A RESTAURANT/BUFFET/DINER WITH TABLE SERVICE WHERE YOU MUST ALWAYS TIP.

• In other situations, such as a shoeshine person in a train station or airport, people pay whatever they like over and above the cost of the shine. People who work in the financial district regularly pay $20 or even $50 for a $4 shoeshine; I pay considerably less--usually $6-7. Remember in my last blog post how I talked about Americans and hard work and entrepreneurship and gumption? A shoeshine person is seen by most Americans as having gumption, as someone who is working hard to "make it". As such, we tip that person.

All right? All right. Remember that I offer a free phone consult and a free, no obligation one hour trial lesson. Check out my website or call (732) 618-4135 for details! Now that it's summer, you might have time to take lessons!