metridium once bubbled...
If I request special services, then yes, a tip is definitely in order. Otherwise, no. After all, you wouldn't tip for takeout, would you?
ok i know this is a old post but this caught my eye as i work in a restraunt, and take take out (ToGo) orders.
my question isnt why wouldnt you, when you call the restraunt i take the call right everything down including optional items, and/or making menu reccomendations for people who need some advise.
in addition to this i also offer/ask if they want any appitizers or desserts to go along with the main course so its basically the same if they came in to the restraunt to eat. then i have to put it all in the computer system, with some other information since its not a normal order (IE name and phone number along with time entered into the system,etc)
then finally once the person arrives, i have to read back them the whole order, show them that everything is correct, repack the bag and settle up the order(and this is if the order is ready before they arrive, if not i have to do a normal service to see if they want anything to drink while they wait etc).
While all of this is going on im doing my normal bartending duties, which 4 out of 5 times im making drinks while taking orders (one hand writing and another shaking a drink, thank goodness for wireless phone ear pieces)
for example i work in a mid-upper range mexican restraunt in the dallas texas area( the part of town the restraunt is in has many homes in the .75-2.5 million dollar range), and on sunday night i got a customer who just blew my mind about how rude and mean people can be in reguards to tipping
They ordered house ribeye stake (14oz-- gentlemen), and his whife ordered best of the house (which is a combonation beef and shrimp dish) and both had about 3 a person of $10 marguritas (hand made, by me since i was in the bar that night), before there dinner they were eating the chips and salsa like crazy so i was replacing them like crazy every 3 to 5 minutes, so then i get there dinner out to them and replace the chips and salsa (which are provided to them for free) so when i come back about 5 minutes later to see how everything is he starts to complain that the chips are greasy and that he wants to talk to a manager, well i complied with his request and got the manager who tried to get the guy to calm down, and even offerred to give them dessert for free and they refused say that all they wanted was the check. so the manager got them the check and tried to calm them down again, well they sign it and leave and i go to check what they left. They left me a dollar on a $85-100 check which really ticked me off because i was busy with the bar and other customers and was taking care of this guy the best i could do and i got stiffed because the chips were greasy ( give me a break there tortilla pieces fried in oil, what did you expect, and i looked at that basket of chips and they were less greasy then others i have delivered that night, and the kitchen manager even agreed with me) now thats just plain rude, but its been noted so that the next time they come in they will be watched much closer.
for normal boat trips my tip is $5 per tank and if they did anything above and beyond the call increase it as necessary, and then it goes to the person who gave "the above the call" service
and in restraunts as a rule of thumb if the service was to standard i double the tax of the bill (in my area its 8.25%) and based on service its adjusted from there