When I first came here, I wasn't familiar with the custom of tipping in restaurants. Where I'm from, tipping is rare and unheard of, and only done for exceptional, exceptional service. That is because most restaurants already charge you 5-15% "service tax".
There is this restaurant a friend and I used to go to weekly right after our classes ended. That was where I was first made aware of tipping. A couple of months after we first started going there, another friend wanted to go to lunch, so I suggested this same restaurant that we go to. She and I took our seats, ordered food, and paid for the check.
On our way out, she asked me how much tip I left (I don't remember why she asked me that). I said I didn't leave any this time.
"What? Why not??"
"I come here often. Weekly, in fact."
See, my thinking was that my repeat business was a good enough tip.
Of course, my friend was horrified, and she was close to yelling at me on the street. She dragged me back to the restaurant, found our server, and added a few more dollars while apologizing profusely. The server was understanding enough -- although she did say she thought it was odd that I didn't leave any tip.
That was one of my most shamed moment in my life, and I guess I deserved it. I wanted to pay my friend back, but she wouldn't take it. That day I learnt why tipping is not really optional.
Have you encountered any social faux pas before? Did you observe it directly?
There is this restaurant a friend and I used to go to weekly right after our classes ended. That was where I was first made aware of tipping. A couple of months after we first started going there, another friend wanted to go to lunch, so I suggested this same restaurant that we go to. She and I took our seats, ordered food, and paid for the check.
On our way out, she asked me how much tip I left (I don't remember why she asked me that). I said I didn't leave any this time.
"What? Why not??"
"I come here often. Weekly, in fact."
See, my thinking was that my repeat business was a good enough tip.
Of course, my friend was horrified, and she was close to yelling at me on the street. She dragged me back to the restaurant, found our server, and added a few more dollars while apologizing profusely. The server was understanding enough -- although she did say she thought it was odd that I didn't leave any tip.
That was one of my most shamed moment in my life, and I guess I deserved it. I wanted to pay my friend back, but she wouldn't take it. That day I learnt why tipping is not really optional.
Have you encountered any social faux pas before? Did you observe it directly?
