HometownSource Blogs

According to a recent Zagat survey, the Twin Cities ranked No. 12 in terms of tipping at restaurants.

Number to number, or rather dollar to dollar, the average Minnesotan tip is 19.1 percent of the bill.

This list was comprised of 30 different geographic areas, with Honolulu coming in last at 18 percent. 

Coming in last? Isn’t the socially correct amount somewhere between 15 and 20 percent?

For me, I’d like to think of myself as a good tipper. Now, not necessarily outstanding, but not bad. However, maybe it’s due to my poor lack of math skills, but I don’t normally tip depending on the socially correct stigma of 15 to 20 percent. Granted, it’s at least 15 percent, but could be more than 20 depending on the service.

Here’s a perfect example: I absolutely love Figlios. It is my all time personal favorite restaurant in Uptown (I recommend the open face fork and knife veggie sandwich). But, it’s not just the food that makes my experiences there enough to brag. It’s the service. The servers are also friendly. My food is always perfect (and if not they are willing to bring it back) and I just have a nice all around time there. Figlios always gets at least a 20 percent, if not higher.

But then there’s another restaurant/bar in Uptown. I’d name it, but I don’t like to specifically call out a bad place. Anyways, every single time I go there, the service is horrible. Horrible as in, the waitresses are too busy being punk rock and rude to actually be nice to someone. The last time I was there, the server basically threw my drink in front of me, and never again asked if a) I’d like something to drink or b) if it was OK for her to be completely and utterly rude. So, when I left I didn’t tip. That’s right. Nothing. Not even a penny.

Now I know that may seem harsh. I’m sure she wasn’t happy working at a loud bar on a Friday night in a place where everyone is covered in black, fishnet, ripped clothing and tattoos (nope, I also didn’t really fit in). However, that’s really not my fault and I refuse to pay someone to be mean to me.

So the moral of this entire post is that tips should depend on service, not because of what the bill says.

But I’m wondering, how much do most people normally leave? Is it based on the total bill (i.e. – taking out the cell phone and using the tip calculator) or is it all about the quality of service?

Also, are there any servers (past or present) reading? Do you think this 19.1 percent is accurate, or is it a little higher or lower? What’s your take on tips?