I’m not much of a tipper, especially when somebody takes me for granted. But I do believe in rewarding a person for a job well done.
A cruise to Bermuda put my mind at rest. Whether I liked it or not, the tips were included in my package—from the porters and the chamber matrons right down to the bartenders and waiters.
I don’t recall what the final payment was, but who thinks about it? Some restaurants operate that way. The tip’s included with the meal, especially for larger gatherings.
Recently, I committed a minor felony. After being wined and dined at a fancy restaurant, I forgot to tip my waitress.
The waitress had worked extra hard to please, displaying the utmost of hospitality to ensure our comfort. Although I can’t be sure, she seemed like a rookie and was a little nervous at first.
But the order was taken efficiently and served with diligence—and a smile. The last thing you ever want is a person with an attitude, and I’ve had some of those along the way.
“Hello. My name is Gloria and I will be your waitress for the evening,” she said.
After taking our orders, she read them back just to be on the safe side.
When she returned with our food, she put the veal in front of my wife and the fish before me, just the opposite. We exchanged the plates ourselves. She apologized and I assured her it was quite all right.
“No harm done,” I smiled.
“It’s been a long day,” she told us. “My replacement is out sick and I’m working a double.”
That made it worse. All the more reason to give her the gratuity.
I can remember working the counter at my dad’s coffee shop and looking under the plate for any loose nickels and dimes. Back then, that was good money. Today, it’s 20 percent of the fare and quite substantial.
I made out well only when someone forgot to pocket the change.
On occasion, the bill would come to 95 cents and the big sports would hand me a dollar and tell me to keep the change.
I had a little coffee cup by the side of the register where I would deposit these coins. At day’s end, the total was less than a dollar. I always went out of my way to please a customer, hoping I would be remembered.
The tip you leave for lunch today would have bought you dinner a generation ago. I’ve also noticed that poor men give bigger tips pretending to be rich. And rich men give small tips, pretending to be poor. It’s a fact of life.
My mother got better tips. There’s something about tipping a female as opposed to a male. Truth be told, I’d rather be waited on by a waitress than a waiter any day. They seem to be more tolerant and quicker on their feet.
That’s the way I judged my waitress. She gave us good service, smiling as she went along.
“You can always go back to the restaurant tomorrow and give her a tip belatedly,” came the advice. “She surely won’t mind.”
That sounded like the only way to clear my conscience and I returned the following afternoon, looking for Gloria. She had the day off. I haven’t tried since.
I may avoid that establishment for a while, fearful that she may recognize me and sneer at me under her breath.
Then, again, I could always mail her the money. But she would never associate the act with the identity, unless she keeps notes on the culprits with dates.
My wife and I were celebrating an anniversary in Paris one year and decided to dine out in style. My money had been converted into francs and I had lost absolutely all regard toward value.
We ordered to our heart’s content, wine, cheese, and dessert. The bill arrived and out followed a tip. I had no idea what protocol dictated at these places and perhaps left more than was expected. A woman at the next table put her hand to her mouth and was aghast, thinking I was Donald Trump in disguise.
We left the table and were headed outside when she picked up the money from my table and chased after me. The woman chastised me for being overly extravagant and setting a bad example for local diners. Turns out I inadvertently gave her a 50 percent tip.
All the world loves a lover in Paris because he tips so generously.
Tom Vartabedian
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This is very cute story..:) but i bet if you went back to the restaurant Tom, and tell Gloria ” I believe I forgot to leave this for you”.. you would be the talk of the town.. after so much time, a diner came back to do the right thing..:)
Gayane
As a waitress I think it’s also important to know that they only way we get paid in the US is by tip so do try never to forget! I’ve found some cultures think we get paid an hourly wage and tip is just extra. In fact the $4-9 an hour is not for us, it goes to taxes resulting in checks for 0 dollars, hence a tip in America is the only way we get paid!