It's kind of a silly question, but just came to me recently since I started dating her. When I go visit her while she's at work serving and I eat by myself; will she expect me to leave a tip and should I? What about when I'm with friends and family, do I leave my share of the tip?
I actually met her there, and I go every couple of weeks. I don't mind tipping, but at the same time I didn't know what the proper etiquette is.
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Favorite Answer
I waited tables when I was younger and when my friends and family came to my restaurant, they always left exceedingly generous tips. When I visited my waitress friends at work, I did the same.
Look at it this way--if you go to her restaurant, sit at her table and don't tip, you're occupying one of her tables that she could be using to make money. So if you don't tip, not only did you deprive her of a tip, but you deprived her of the opportunity to make a tip from someone else. You absolutely MUST tip her and tip her well.
If she has a problem with you tipping her, she'll let you know and then you can stop. But, I'm 99% sure she will expect, want and need a tip from you. That's how she pays her bills.
R
You should not go there by yourself to eat just so you can see her. That puts you in a situation that makes you look a little too clingy/needy, and the whole tipping thing only makes it worse. Why put yourself in a situation that can potentially make you look bad? But if you insist on going there alone to see her, yes, you should still tip her. Not tipping her will make you look cheap.
As far as family and friends go, you should treat it as a regular outing so of course you should tip her. That would be completely messed up if you're there with your family/friends and she serves you and you leave without tipping.
jaxgsxr
Is it possible that you frequent a different diner? And if you're set on eating at her work then leave at least a 20% tip (since 15% is common). If she becomes disgruntled about your tipping etiquette then maybe she's not for you.
Anonymous
Always tip 20% regardless of your relationship, she's working for tips not love!
Anonymous
Of course you should tip. Tipping is part of the business of dining, regardless of your relationships with the restaurant staff.