How much to do you tip and why?

[DCnDC]

@kayT

But actually I came into this thread to ask the OP, or anyone else who knows, where I can get those Chinese buns with sweet BBQ pork in them here in the Austin area. When I lived in California a friend used to bring them to me every so often and they were incredible. I think the ones I got were baked not steamed and I used to know their name (something Bao?) but forgot. But I sure would love to have a couple right now.

I’m not in Austin, but “bao” or “baozi” is correct. Char siu bao, more specifically. Find an Asian grocery store, they should have them either fresh or frozen. There are two major varieties, steamed white ones, and baked which look more like a Western roll. The white steamed kind are much, much more common. I’ve only ever gotten the baked ones fresh at an Asian supermarket, and even in DC where there are Asian markets everywhere I’ve only seen them in one or two places.

Looking at a map of Austin, looks like there’s a place called Bao’d Up you could check out at: 1911 Aldrich St Ste A1 Austin, TX 78723.

ETA: when shopping in an Asian grocery store, the better, more “authentic” brands are usually the ones with the least English printed on the package.

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[CookingWithGas]

@MrDibble

10% is the standard here, that’s what I tip. it’s also the amount most places add automatically if you have a party of 6+ or 8+ at a table. Don’t recall that ever not being 10%, even at high-end places.

Where do you live?

Here most places will add 18% for large parties. The standard for high-end places is 20%, although that seems to be creeping up.

[CookingWithGas]

@kayaker

I don’t get this view. I owe the restaurant nothing. If I had such a horrid experience that I am going to leave 0% as a tip, the last thing I want is to discuss my experience with the manager. Maybe I’ll slam the place on Yelp. I definitely will not be back. Why do I owe the manager an explanation?

You don’t owe them anything but unless they actually insulted or offended you in some way this is uncalled for, just on the basis of being a decent human being. Everybody can have a bad day; maybe two servers called in sick and your server had twice as many tables as normal. When I talk to the manager I get a sense of satisfaction that I have actually expressed what I am unhappy about. Usually they care (but not always). If you leave a penny, they are not going to hang their heads in shame and regret that they didn’t treat you better–they are just going to shrug their shoulders and say, “What a cheap asshole.” If you give them actual feedback, in some cases they might even invite you back for a discount or a free meal to give them another shot.

[MrDibble]

@CookingWithGas

Where do you live?

South Africa.

[silenus]

Lots, because I can.

Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Antonelli: It’s not tipping I believe in. It’s overtipping.

[kayaker]

@CookingWithGas

If you give them actual feedback, in some cases they might even invite you back for a discount or a free meal to give them another shot.

If my evening has been so fucked up that I want to leave $0 tip, the last thing I want is to return to the restaurant for a free meal. If I’m leaving $0 (not a penny, I don’t carry pennies) I’m sure the server knows that I’m dissatisfied.
ETA: to be clear, this is an extremely rare event. It happened Memorial Day weekend though, and the evening is still fresh in my memory. Yelp has heard about it. The last $0 meal was 25 years ago.

[kayT]

@DCnDC

I’m not in Austin, but “bao” or “baozi” is correct. Char siu bao, more specifically. Find an Asian grocery store, they should have them either fresh or frozen. There are two major varieties, steamed white ones, and baked which look more like a Western roll. The white steamed kind are much, much more common. I’ve only ever gotten the baked ones fresh at an Asian supermarket, and even in DC where there are Asian markets everywhere I’ve only seen them in one or two places.

Looking at a map of Austin, looks like there’s a place called Bao’d Up you could check out at: 1911 Aldrich St Ste A1 Austin, TX 78723.

ETA: when shopping in an Asian grocery store, the better, more “authentic” brands are usually the ones with the least English printed on the package.

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You are my hero as of right now. I’ll make it permanent if I can find a baked Bao. I wonder if there are frozen ones I could bake myself? Have to look. Yay!