518044 Sun May 11 13:07:49 -0700 2008 12 29 Not About Food 0 3676956 What is the appropriate tip % at a brazilian steakhouse? We recently went to a loca brazilian steakhouse, similar to a Fogo de Chao but much more casual. I tipped aropund 10% which is what I usually tip at a buffet. My logic is that all of the food (except the meat) is served buffet style and the meat is served by men walking around with giant skewers. So, our waitress did not really do anything except get our drinks. When my husband found out what I tipped he called me cheap and said we should have left a full tip (we typically tip 20%). So, was my husband right and was I completely cheap (and sould I be emarassed to go back)? Sun May 11 13:07:51 -0700 2008 14329 AmblerGirl 1 3678253 I tip 20% at buffets. The servers still have one of the hardest jobs in the world, no matter if I sit in a chair for two hours or get up multiple times during that two hours. Mon May 12 04:26:20 -0700 2008 3676956 11104 dolores 2 3679826 I agree with you Dolores. The only time I have not tipped at a buffet was last week. We went and had several different items, hence, several different dirty dishes. Not once did ANYONE come by and remove the dirty dishes. We had to place them on a dirty table next to us to get them out of the way. And the place was not that busy. We did all the work, getting refills on our drinks, getting our own silverware and napkins, so for the first time ever I did not tip at the buffet. We were even close to the kitchen so they were walking by us, and saw the dishes! I went again, food is just so good, on Mother's Day. Place was packed and our dishes were removed within a minute or two after we were done with them. I tipped over 20%. Mon May 12 12:35:32 -0700 2008 3678253 80937 danhole 1 3679798 We've tipped 20% as usual. Our guess was always that the actual "waitperson" for our table was probably sharing the tips with the "skewer" people. We just figured it was the same sort of thing as waitstaff tipping out bartenders/bus staff/etc. Since they were bringing food, drinks, and dessert to our table, there wasn't a difference. Mon May 12 12:30:14 -0700 2008 3676956 104084 LNG212 1 3680398 I should probably leave this topic alone, because I spend about $60-100 a week dining out, just on tips. I start at 20% generally and go up from there. In rare cases I'll go down, but never, ever would I leave less than 15%, unless I decided that someone deserved nothing and then there would be words with the person. I think this biggest thing people forget when they tip, regardless of the level of service, is that anywhere from 2-5 people are splitting those tips. So if you have a bad waiter, but your drinks are delicious, your water glass is always full and you are never looking at dirty plates - then why would you punish everyone else because your waiter wasn't good. Mon May 12 15:00:53 -0700 2008 3676956 165800 jhopp217 2 3720598 >out, just on tips. I start at 20% generally and go up from there. >In rare cases I'll go down, but never, ever would I leave less than >15%, unless I decided that someone deserved >nothing and then there would be words with the person. > my algorithm/sentencing guideline is roughly: --start at ~18% --round up to nearest dollar --plus 5% if we get really hammered and start saying funny things --plus >10% if we get really hammered and become a pain in the ass ["um is your friend coming back?"] --plus 2% for using "you guys" if women are at the table --minus 2-3% for an objectively crappy table [next to bathroom, kitchen door, too small etc]. --minus 2-5% for light to moderate upselling --mnus 0-10% if food is spilled on me, depending on how handled --minus 7% for condescending answer to a question or correcting my pronounciation of darjeeling/bruschetta/Trockenbeerenauslese --minus 15% if anybody goes into anaphylactic shock --minus 20% for being told "go back to your country" this hasnt actually happened to me, so this is just a "book value" after reading http://www.chowhound.com/topics/521139#3717747 on a serious note, i havent figured out what to do yet if the time between when a table is promised to me and when it is given to me is "large" and it is not handled well. also, i definitely appreciate it when a server notices an unverbalized problem ... 'i see you havent finished your cocktail/entree/etc ..." "it looks like you guys are in a bit of a hurry" 'oh i see the sun is in your face" etc. Mon May 26 01:59:54 -0700 2008 3680398 16770 psb 1 3680859 The US custom is to tip 10% for buffet service. You are free to tip more, but that is the longstanding custom. Mon May 12 17:27:59 -0700 2008 3676956 13819 Karl S 2 3680884 Yes, that's true. But the kind of place the OP is discussing isn't the same thing as a regular buffet. There are people who come around and bring food to the table. That, in my opinion, makes the difference. Mon May 12 17:35:44 -0700 2008 3680859 104084 LNG212 2 3706642 and sometimes longstanding customs need to be updated. Tue May 20 17:25:03 -0700 2008 3680859 76938 Bigley9 1 3681286 I almost always tip 20% at a buffet. We went to Korean BBQ on Saturday where you went up to a buffet to get your own food and make your own dipping sauces. But, the server placed our first plate of food into the hot plate for us, cleared a huge number of dishes, and changed out the hot plate once. I felt he deserved every bit of that 20% tip. My one exception is a local Indian buffet where all they do is bring a pitcher of water over to you. The last 10 or so times we've been there never have they ONCE cleared a plate for us, we just pile them up at the end of the table. We don't leave a tip and don't feel guilty at all about it. Mon May 12 20:17:25 -0700 2008 3676956 15507 Rick 2 3682153 >>never have they ONCE cleared a plate for us, we just pile them up at the end of the table. We don't leave a tip and don't feel guilty at all about it. You're right, Rick. THAT is inexcusable. Silly on the server's part, and inexcusable. Tue May 13 07:16:09 -0700 2008 3681286 11104 dolores 1 3705667 When we go to Picanha, I typically leave $10 in the jar by the register for our party. We never get the rodizio all you can eat, so the "skewer guys" are not a factor, but the grill man is. For 4 adults and 2 young kids, it is between 15-20% of the bill. Tue May 20 12:20:50 -0700 2008 3676956 14211 brightman 2 3706293 I did $10 in the jar, for 4 of us in our party and we all did the rodizio. The bill was around $100. Next time... it will be $20! Tue May 20 15:00:03 -0700 2008 3705667 14329 AmblerGirl