Source: BroBible
Summary
A man with over 30 years in the restaurant industry said he refused to tip a server after a poor experience at a steakhouse chain. He and his wife celebrated their 24th anniversary at the restaurant, where service was described as “horrible.” The server allegedly failed to refill drinks, check in, or provide proper service. The couple left no tip for the server but tipped the kitchen staff instead. Industry workers and commenters largely agreed with his decision, citing poor service as a valid reason to withhold tips.
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Author: Evan Null
What Went Wrong At The Steakhouse?
The man, a 30-year restaurant veteran, said he and his wife had a bad experience at a steakhouse chain. He described the service as “horrible” and said the server was unattentive. He ordered a Captain Morgan and Coke, but the server asked if he wanted the drinks separately, which he said was incorrect. The drink also lacked a lime wedge, which he found odd. The server then disappeared, leaving the couple to ask for water and refill their own drinks.
He eventually spoke to a manager, who comped the meal despite his insistence that he didn’t want a free meal. He paid for the drink he ordered but left no tip for the server. He said he normally tips 20% but felt the service didn’t warrant it. He later tipped the kitchen staff instead, saying their food was perfect.
He Asks to Speak To A Manager
The couple had no complaints about the food, which they said was “phenomenal.” The issue was the service. They couldn’t find their server, had to ask for water, and the server allegedly left without checking in or refilling drinks. He approached a manager, who comped the meal, but he said he didn’t need it. He estimated that poor service had cost the restaurant $20 to $30 in tips, which he normally would have given.
The manager ultimately comped the meal, but he only paid for the drink he had ordered and left no tip for the server. He said he didn’t think it was wrong not to tip the server, who was unattentive and failed to provide proper service. He said he usually tips 20% but made an exception in this case.
They Ended Up Tipping Everyone But the Server
The couple didn’t leave the restaurant without tipping anyone. On his way out, he gave $20 to the kitchen staff, asking them to split it among the cooks. He said their food was perfect and that they deserved the tip. He said he normally tips 20% but made an exception for the server. He said he rarely doesn’t tip, but this was one of those rare cases.
He said he didn’t think it was wrong not to tip the server, who was unattentive and didn’t provide proper service. He said he normally tips 20% but felt the service didn’t warrant it. He said he left no tip for the server but tipped the kitchen staff instead, saying they did a better job.
When Is It OK Not To Tip Servers?
In the U.S., tips supplement workers’ income, and servers can be paid as little as $2.13 per hour. Leaving no tip is often seen as a last resort. Etiquette experts recommend 20% as the standard, adjusting up or down based on the experience. Leaving no tip should generally be reserved for particularly bad service, and experts recommend speaking to management to inform the restaurant of the issue.
The man said he normally tips 20% but felt the service didn’t warrant it. He said he left no tip for the server but tipped the kitchen staff instead, saying they did a better job. He said he didn’t think it was wrong not to tip the server, who was unattentive and failed to provide proper service.
Servers Chime In
Several servers agreed with the man’s decision. One said good service deserves good tips, and bad service deserves bad tips. Another said they usually tip 20% unless the service is especially poor. A third said they have worked in the service industry for over 30 years and agreed with the man’s decision. Another said the incident was a symptom of a bigger issue, citing poor training and lack of quality standards in the industry.
Commenters largely agreed with the man, saying that poor service is a valid reason to withhold tips. Some said they usually tip 20% but make exceptions for bad service. Others said they agreed with the man’s decision, saying that some people aren’t cut out for the service industry. One said the incident was a sign of a larger problem in the industry, where training and quality standards are lacking.
