What's the general rule for tipping bar tenders? I sat in a beach bar in ST. Petes beach last year and as the afternoon went on I noticed the cheerful, helpful, attentive bar tender became more aloof towards me as time went by. I assumed it was because I wasn't tipping her after every drink, so when I left I gave her 10 dollars and said thanks for your service. She became nice again! We are going back to Florida in March and I would like to fully understand bar room etiquette.
budvar
The bar staff tend to get forgotten in restaurants and sometimes they are the unsung hero's.
As with many jobs in the US bar staff rely on tips as a major part of their income.
Unlike Waiters that are given a set number of tables and therefore it is easy to leave them a tip at the end of the evening, bar staff may move around the bar / tables and can serve anyone who needs a drink and therefore you may have several different servers.
To be safe I would ask at the time of getting your first drink and act accordingly, at least if you ask at the start the Bar Staff know that you are aware of the position and that should stop a repeat of the situation that you discribed.
DMC
I leave the same as if dining. But if I am by my self and have one or two drinks I always leave a dollar. I would say a round of drinks for 4 people $2.
Patti
www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/263.aspx
HEHE Im never am at a bar by myself. So even if I go to a bar and order a coke I tip $1. Depending on what you order and what the bill is $2-$5 tip is good per round. Ex bartender in my earlier years so I suppose if i was one now I would want to be tipped that much.
Patti
www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/263.aspx
Gee ...if I was to tip every bar person on a night out, I'd spend more on tips than I would on drink. Drinks are expensive enough in the clubs here as it is.[msntongue]
This is always one that gets my husband going. We haTe when tips are added on and ask them to take it off, then we leave, if service good 10%. 15-20 is too much I feel. It is one of the only things I do not like about the US. I know these guys and gals do not get paid much but we then subsidise the owners by paying the wage bill!
No body tips me for doing my job! OK whinge over!
CDV
Most waiters etc are really nice in the US and we generally tip them 10 per cent or thereabouts.
Once though we went to a restaurant and we must have caught the waiter on a bad day!![msnsad][msnsad]
We're really easy going people and even more so whilst in Florida[msnsmile2][msnsmile2] but this guy was so "short" with us.
He even spilt a beer over one of my kids and didn,t apologise. He half cleaned the table and disappeared to get another beer....He returned 20 minutes later with the beer as we were ready to leave!!
The table was full of dirty plates (and spilt beer).
He shot off to get the bill and returned with a smile as my hubby was getting his money out!!
Why pay for his service!!!!...there wasn't one!![msncry][msncry]
We paid the bill and Paul gave him 50 cents deliberately in his hand and told him to keep his bad days at home....[msnembarrased]
Sharon
Sharon
At a bar, I'd tip a minimum of $1 or 15% - 20%, whichever was the higher amount.
You may have caught him on a bad day, or after a run of Brit guests, Sharon!!! We are known throughout Orlando for being amongst the meanest tippers.
Part of the problem with sloppy or bad service, is that when they hear a Brit accent they often know that they'll be very lucky to get any tip!!! I've seen Brits just get up and walk out and leave nothing. I've also seen those who think that they are being generous when they leave a couple of bucks on the table for a full meal for 4 people. I felt like running after both of these meanies and explaining the error of their ways to them, so goodness only knows what the waiter felt like!! There's no excuse for this behaviour either, since all the tour ops and brochures mention tipping and what you should and shouldn't do.
In some restaurants and bars the waiters pay to work there because they know that if they give good service that they will receive very generous tips.
Wait Staff only usually get paid minimum wage, which is around $3.50 per hour (not sure of exact amount). That's one of the reasons why the food costs so little when you eat out - you have not been charged for service. The accepted rate for tips is 15% and 20% or more for exceptional service.
The waiters and bar staff get taxed on the assumption that they have made so much per shift in tips at 15%. If you leave them less than 15%, then they will pay tax on more than you left them.
I sometimes feel like wearing a T Shirt that says "I may be a Brit but I do tip".
Carla
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