Tipping in GBK/Nandos
Discussion
Moving to Yankland I've often been surprised at how much people tip over here. I always tipped when eating out at home when the place warranted it, but it was never a percentage of the bill, it was always a few quid.
My family members here quite often will tip 25 per cent on top of the value of the meal. I pretty much always do 15 per cent now which I find acceptable, and I think its generally whats considered acceptable.
Here in San Diego there are quite a few restaurants that are now adding an automatic 3 per cent service fee to the bill due to increased minimum wage which is impacting the business owners profits, some say quite drastically. I haven't been out to any of those places yet.
My family members here quite often will tip 25 per cent on top of the value of the meal. I pretty much always do 15 per cent now which I find acceptable, and I think its generally whats considered acceptable.
Here in San Diego there are quite a few restaurants that are now adding an automatic 3 per cent service fee to the bill due to increased minimum wage which is impacting the business owners profits, some say quite drastically. I haven't been out to any of those places yet.
GT03ROB said:
dazco said:
I have tried to tip at McD's, the are not allowed to accept it.
Really? Do you try to tip in Tesco's, Waitrose or wherever you shop??Take an order at my table (food & drink), deliver to table, clear table. TIP. Otherwise not.
It's different "rules" in the US.
It is not traditional in this country to leave a little something, like a tip, at the "shop", but many people leave a little money for the service they have received at a "restaurant".
Try and remember the difference, a "shop" is where you might buy your weekly groceries and a "restaurant" is where you might typically go for just one meal that they will prepare and serve for you.
Hope this helps.
In the UK at Nandos and GBK or any place where you order and pay at the till, they bring you the grub and you leave:
If there's a tip tray at the restaurant door I might throw a coin or two in there on the way out if the service was quick and efficient and friendly.
If there's a tip jar by the till I don't put anything in it - I haven't received the service yet. If it's good I might throw a coin or two on the table as I leave.
If I am paying afterwards, at the table, after receiving good service I tip 10%. TEN percent is the standard UK service payment.
If, in the same case, they state a service change is included I breathe a sigh of relief and leave nothing extra. Then they can choose if they want to charge 10% or 12.5% up to them.
In the US tip percentages are higher, usually from 15% right up to 20%. Usually 20%. Many places recommend a percentage (thank you, makes it easy). But there pay and conditions and taxation rules are quite different. In the UK waiting and catering staff are not taxed on their tips automatically like they are in the US. In the UK there is a taxation scheme that means you only pay tax on tip income actually received. So if you leave nothing, you are not cutting their pay, like you would be in the US.
This is the US/UK tip culture difference. I hope this helps any Americans travelling to the UK - if you hand over 25% like you might at home you are ripping yourself off, rather than preventing your server from losing out.
If there's a tip tray at the restaurant door I might throw a coin or two in there on the way out if the service was quick and efficient and friendly.
If there's a tip jar by the till I don't put anything in it - I haven't received the service yet. If it's good I might throw a coin or two on the table as I leave.
If I am paying afterwards, at the table, after receiving good service I tip 10%. TEN percent is the standard UK service payment.
If, in the same case, they state a service change is included I breathe a sigh of relief and leave nothing extra. Then they can choose if they want to charge 10% or 12.5% up to them.
In the US tip percentages are higher, usually from 15% right up to 20%. Usually 20%. Many places recommend a percentage (thank you, makes it easy). But there pay and conditions and taxation rules are quite different. In the UK waiting and catering staff are not taxed on their tips automatically like they are in the US. In the UK there is a taxation scheme that means you only pay tax on tip income actually received. So if you leave nothing, you are not cutting their pay, like you would be in the US.
This is the US/UK tip culture difference. I hope this helps any Americans travelling to the UK - if you hand over 25% like you might at home you are ripping yourself off, rather than preventing your server from losing out.
The last two visits to my local McDonalds when I had table service, one server called me "my lovely" and the other "love". Surprised me as they were 18-20 year old lads and I'm a 35 year old bloke. I wondered briefly if I had the option for for some hot gay twinkie action, or if it was a dare, or if that's the sort of thing kids say these days. 
I didn't offer up a tip of any sort.
I didn't offer up a tip of any sort.AlexC1981 said:
The last two visits to my local McDonalds when I had table service, one server called me "my lovely" and the other "love". Surprised me as they were 18-20 year old lads and I'm a 35 year old bloke. I wondered briefly if I had the option for for some hot gay twinkie action, or if it was a dare, or if that's the sort of thing kids say these days. I didn't offer up a tip of any sort.
Westcountry? I didn't offer up a tip of any sort.
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Trabi601 said:
I've walked past Nando's a number of times. Always a queue of councillists outside, so never been tempted to go in.
Pothole said:
No idea why anyone goes to Nando's.
I see the 'considerably better than youw' brigade are out in force 
. Thanks for the insight boys, we're all very impressed and bow down to your obvious culinary superiority.Back on topic - if I happen to have a few quid in my pocket then I'll leave it on the table. If not, then I don't lose sleep over it.
Yep. We all like good food. If we didn't, we wouldn't be posting a food sub-forum.
That doesn't mean we can't see the appeal of nipping into a Nando's with the kid (singular in our case), spending £20 and getting a reasonable bit of nosebag fairly swiftly and be on our way to the cinema/shops/match/whatever we're doing with our day. I wouldn't take Mrs. 1879 for our wedding anniversary but it does an adequate enough job for its purpose.
That doesn't mean we can't see the appeal of nipping into a Nando's with the kid (singular in our case), spending £20 and getting a reasonable bit of nosebag fairly swiftly and be on our way to the cinema/shops/match/whatever we're doing with our day. I wouldn't take Mrs. 1879 for our wedding anniversary but it does an adequate enough job for its purpose.
Polarbert said:
Moving to Yankland I've often been surprised at how much people tip over here. I always tipped when eating out at home when the place warranted it, but it was never a percentage of the bill, it was always a few quid.
My family members here quite often will tip 25 per cent on top of the value of the meal. I pretty much always do 15 per cent now which I find acceptable, and I think its generally whats considered acceptable.
Here in San Diego there are quite a few restaurants that are now adding an automatic 3 per cent service fee to the bill due to increased minimum wage which is impacting the business owners profits, some say quite drastically. I haven't been out to any of those places yet.
I was seeing a girl in LA last year and she was a waitress.My family members here quite often will tip 25 per cent on top of the value of the meal. I pretty much always do 15 per cent now which I find acceptable, and I think its generally whats considered acceptable.
Here in San Diego there are quite a few restaurants that are now adding an automatic 3 per cent service fee to the bill due to increased minimum wage which is impacting the business owners profits, some say quite drastically. I haven't been out to any of those places yet.
Her actual wages were nothing after deductions and health insurance etc. She completely depended on tips, which at her restaurant were good. She made about $700 to $1000 dollars a week in tips, which are taxed in the US. From that she would then pay a set % to the 'backroom staff' ie cooks, cleaners, bus boys etc.
In fact the US Inland Revenue Service expects waiting staff to earn at least 15% in tips thus taxes them on that automatically. Pretty rubbish if you have not made that as you still have to pay up.
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