How to Handle Kitchen Tips on Your Restaurant Bill: Essential Advice

Oh, let me tell you somethin’ about them tips on the restaurant bill, honey! I know this can be all confusing, specially for folks like us who don’t get out to fancy restaurants too often. But here’s what I know, and it might just make things clearer for ya.

So, when you sit down at one of them fancy places, after you finish eatin’ your meal, they bring that bill, right? And a lot of times, folks get to wonderin’ whether they should leave a tip for the kitchen folks or just for the waiter. Well, lemme tell ya, that tip don’t go where you think it does half the time.

Now, here’s the thing, sugar. By law in the good ol’ US of A, those tips you leave on the table – they’re usually just for the folks bringin’ you food, like the waiters and waitresses. They can’t share it with the kitchen staff, even if they want to! Ain’t that somethin’? Yep, that’s because the law says only the folks who usually get tips (like servers) can take ’em. Cooks and dishwashers, bless their hearts, don’t usually get no share of that money. The boss can’t make the servers share tips with them either – it’s against the law!

Oh, and sometimes you might see a little line on your bill sayin’ “service charge” or “gratuity included.” This is another thing that gets folks mixed up. So, here’s how it works. If there’s a service charge already added, that usually means they’ve put a little extra on for you so you don’t gotta tip if you don’t want to. They add that, especially if you’re in a big ol’ group or if it’s a busy holiday. But remember, honey, even with that service charge, it still don’t mean the kitchen folks see any of it. That’s just how things are.

How Much Should You Tip?

Now I know you’re probably wonderin’ how much to tip when it comes to regular ol’ service. Well, folks say about 15% is fair if things went all right. If that waiter was runnin’ around keepin’ your water glass full and makin’ sure you’re happy, then some say go up to 20%. And if they were just too kind and helpful, maybe even more, if you’re feelin’ generous. Ain’t nobody gonna stop ya from goin’ over 20% if they made you feel real special.

Special New Rules About Tips

There’s even been some talk lately about makin’ sure workers get all their tips directly. New laws are poppin’ up here and there, makin’ sure that employers don’t hold back any tip money from the workers. This way, the folks who actually helped ya get to keep what they earned. Some laws say the tips gotta be handed over by the end of the month so the workers don’t have to wait too long to see their money. It’s about time, right?

Now, it might seem fair to tip the kitchen staff too, but like I said, the law says tips usually only go to the ones who serve at the table. If ya really loved what the cook did, sometimes you can ask the manager if there’s a way to tip the kitchen. Some places let ya add a little extra for the cook, but not all places allow it. It’s always good to check if you want to make sure the kitchen folks get a little love too.

Here’s the last thing, honey. If you felt like you got poor service, well, it’s up to you whether you wanna tip or not. Ain’t nobody gonna come after ya if you don’t. Some folks say to leave a little somethin’ anyhow, even if it’s just a few coins, just to show you weren’t totally unhappy. But again, it’s all about how you feel and how you were treated. And trust me, any little bit helps for these folks workin’ hard.

So there you go! Now you know a thing or two about how these tips work when you’re out havin’ a nice meal. Hope this helps the next time you’re lookin’ at that bill and wonderin’ what to do!

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tips, restaurant tips, tipping etiquette, gratuity, service charge, kitchen staff tips