And does it change depending on what they do (bring you drinks, take away plates, stare at you after the 3rd plate to make you feel guilty)? Does it matter if it’s a classy buffet, versus el cheapo ethnic ones?
ten percent
With the exception of bringing an initial plate of food, they work just as hard as most wait-persons do. They re-fill my drink, bring me fresh plates, often bring a nice plate of fresh bread, try to make my dining experience a pleasant one, etc. So I tip the same, 10%.
The same thing I tip delivery pizza drivers…$3 or $4 if the tab is under $20, and $5 or so if it’s between $20 or $30.
I don’t think in terms of percentages on small tabs, like $8 buffets; even with a beverage, 10% is…a whopping dollar. A dollar is a good tip for popping a beer. That’s it.
15-20% is standard for a sit down restaurant. Are you guys saying that you tip slightly less at buffets?
For buffets I always followed the old axiom of $1 per person.
Usually 3-4 dollars, which for 2 people sits in the 15-20% range at most places around here. I don’t think their job is as hard as a server’s at a normal place. They run around about as much but they don’t have to remember or coordinate food orders, which isn’t trivial. Or at least, it wasn’t trivial for me when I waited tables (I was a pretty awful waiter though, that didn’t last long).
But it doesn’t really matter to me that they do the same amount of work as long as they make my experience enjoyable, and I figure that’s worth a few bucks at least.
Right. But if they bring you drinks or do anything else, it can be more.
Yes, I’ve always been told it’s 10% at buffets where the waiters don’t bring you your food.
Nor take your order, nor give suggestions nor answer questions, nor…
In fact, I have never heard of 10% for this non-service before now. It’d be like giving your busboy an add’l 10% tip. I don’t get it.
I do 10% also, if they bring drinks and stuff like that. That is wait service, though much simpler than at a standard place where I tip 20%. I don’t tip at places where they don’t do anything except take away dirty plates though. I think the metric is if there is any contact with me, as opposed to only my dishes.
Oh, Ok, if they take and bring the drink order, along with refills, then yes, more than a buck is called for.:smack:
Well, unless the buffett is $10 or less (like my lunch place is) and thus my $1 is more than 10% anyway.