Tip Etiquette

Warning; this is a bit of a rant.

Last night was a lot of work with not a lot of reward. I work in a semi-fine-dining restaurant on a small island in Georgia. I pride myself on the service I give to everyone that walks in the door, no matter who you are or where you're coming from. That said, we had the cheap seats going on last night. The tourist council must have run a special for po-dunk towns to come see our little bit of paradise.

The restaurant I work in is considered the best on the island and our food rivals some of the best in the area and quite possibly, around the country. We have our menu posted online and outside our front door so there are no surprises on the cost to dine with us. I will probably get a bit of backlash saying tipping is not required but it is customary and there's not a lot we can do about it, so it's a moot point.

I understand that some people are on a budget and have a difficult time going on a vacation and affording all the extras that traveling requires. There are many places on the island that fit into your budgetary needs.

I'm lucky to have a great group of regulars, whether they be weekly, monthly, or seasonal and I work hard to make sure everyone has a great experience and some witty repatartee if expected. I'm also lucky to be tipped generously for my sparkling personality and I get the added benefit of having a blast while stacking cash.

If you come into my restaurant and get great service then show me how much you enjoyed it. I get that some people are picky eaters and I may bitch about it behind the scenes but I'm going to treat you with respect to your face. If you want something, ask for it, and don't interrupt me while I'm in the middle of relaying the specials or talking to another table. Most times a simple look or maybe raise your hand to let me know you have a question or request will do.

Customary tipping is about 18 to 20% these days. I haven't received an actual paycheck in the last ten years and I have to pay taxes on what I make in tips. It's the nature of the beast working at a small business. I understand that you're not always going to get the best service and if you are less than satisfied, then by all means, take it up with a manager or leave a bad review, but don't be a cheap ass if everything was great or beyond your expectations. Keep your miserable ass home.

I hope you enjoyed the photos of some of our weekly specials and thanks for taking the time to read.