Gothamist: Hot Sake - Food News You Can Use

cph

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:26:18 -0500

I wrote this already on waiterrant.net, but I wanted to inform readers of something before they followed that link and become offended. Next time you are dining out, try to remember that those tips you leave don’t go directly to us! As a server at a high volume restaurant, I would like customers to know that in many many restaurants, the tips are POOLED. that means all the tips the restaurant collects are put together and divided off in percentages to all the servers, bussers, bartenders, and hosts. The percentages are categorized often by your title (server or bartender), your shift (lunch or dinner), and how many tables you take care of (3 tables or 6). Thank you for your 15% tip, but I’m really only getting 1/8th of 80% of that $8. Think about that.

cph

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:25:36 -0500

I commented this on waiterrant.net, but I want 'Hot Sake' readers to know this too before they read waiterrant and think servers are selfish. In most cases, those tips you leave don’t go directly to us! As a server at a chained restaurant, I would like customers to know that in many many restaurants, the tips are POOLED. that means all the tips the restaurant collects are put together and divided off in percentages to all the servers, bussers, bartenders, and hosts working that shift. The percentages are categorized often by your title (server or bartender), your shift (lunch or dinner), and how many tables you take care of (3 tables or 6). Thank you for your 15% tip, but I’m really only getting 1/8th of 80% of that $8. Think about that.