How to tip your waiter or waitress.

Picture this you go into a restaurant and your dining experience is remarkably good. The hostess was prompt in seating you (at a table that is not next to a bathroom or kitchen), the restaurant is clean, the waitstaff is pleasant, your waiter/ess is attentive and knowledgable, the food is prepared just the way you wanted it and the atmosphere is inviting. Now your bill is dropped off and you aren't so sure how to tip your waiter/ess. This is a common dilemma among restaurant patrons. Some patrons might even ask their waiter/ess "how much of a tip should I leave you?" while this is considerate, it is a very uncomfortable situation. The customary tip is 15%-20%, but if your server was exceptional you may leave more and vice versa. Some cell phones have a tip calculator in the tools area of the phone which is very convienient. Please keep in mind that a waiter or waitress is paid a minimal 2.15 per hour and does not have the benefits of sick leave, paid time off, maternity leave and minimal benefits may be offered in a corporate restaurant (if any at all). Also many waiters and waitresses are college students, mothers who must work opposite shifts from there spouse because daycare is to expensive or they would prefer to raise their children rather then put them in daycare, retirees that are trying to make ends meet or a struggling mother or father's second job. Now if the service that you received from your waiter or waitress was not good (i.e, slow, continually empty glasses, you didn't get what you ordered or they had an attitude) then tip accordingly. But you should keep a couple things in mind: 1. we are all human(unfortunately, for a waiter/ess if mess up anything you might not get a tip and 2. this could be your child one day working to pay for college. Oh, just one more thing if you are in a hurry or have any special food needs due to allergies make sure that you server knows this immediately.

From a customer's perspective.

I am interested in getting the customer's perspective of their dining experience. Starting from the host greeting you, to you paying your bill. Why, might you ask? Well, being in the restaurant industry for some years I find that there is a common denominator that is not given much thought, the customer's perspective. Most restaurants do things according to what has worked in the past, but without the "true" input of the patron how can they improve the dining experience? Here is your chance to make your thoughts about your experience known, be honest! This is not some comment card at a restaurant or a manager rushing over to say "how was everything this evening?" with the server that waited on you standing in ear shot. If you want the restaurant industry to improve so that your dining experience can be the best you've ever had then add your thoughts?