Any waiter/waitresses out there?

[Whispersecret]

I need an answer to a question for my latest story, please.

If you work at a ritzy restaurant where entrees are upward of $30, about how much would you clear in tips per night?

 

[dancinvixen]

A waitperson working in this kind of restaurant, would have to clear about 200 in tips, since tipping is 10-15% of your check, and if the entree's are 30 and up. It could be pretty expensive. <g> <former waitperson, wanna go back>

 

[Ksss]

I have worked in the food industry for the last 20+ years. Depends on:
1)How many tables you have each night
2)How busy the establishment is
3)Number of guests at the table
4)How was the service?
5)HOw was the food?

Average tipping scale is 15% to 20% of the bill. Hope this helps you out.

 

[Whispersecret]

You guys are funny. Of course I know that the average tip runs 15%-20%! <chuckles>

Here's the paragraph I need the info for. (I probably should have pasted this before!)

Around three o’clock he went to work. He made a pretty decent living waiting tables at a posh restaurant in Century City. He was both proud and embarrassed that he was very good at catering to the rich diners. Because he usually cleared ___ a night in tips alone, he worked hard at appearing cordially subservient even in the face of the most abusive of customers. It galled him that he had to take so much crap from people because he depended on their generosity for his living, but groveling was expected a waiter in a restaurant where the average entree cost upwards of thirty dollars.

Oh, and feel free to comment on anything else in that paragraph that might ring false. I've never worked in the food industry, so I can use all the help I can get! THANKS!!!

 

[Ksss]

You wrote: Around three o’clock he went to work. He made a pretty decent living waiting tables at a posh restaurant in Century City. He was both proud and embarrassed that he was very good at catering to the rich diners. Because he usually cleared ___ a night in tips alone, he worked hard at appearing cordially subservient even in the face of the most abusive of customers. It galled him that he had to take so much crap from people because he depended on their generosity for his living, but groveling was expected a waiter in a restaurant where the average entree cost upwards of thirty dollars.

"He was proud that he was very good at catering to the whims and fancies of the rich patrons. But at the same time, he felt embarrassed that he had to act the menial servant to this upper class for their generosity which sustained his meager existence.Because he usually cleared $250 a night in tips..."

Hope this helps you

 

[Mustang Sally]

... It galled him that he had to take so much crap from people because he depended on their generosity for his living, but groveling was expected OF a waiter in a restaurant where the average entree cost upwards of thirty dollars.

Umm, sounds good, just wanted to alert you to a missing word. I'd go along with the $250 - $300 range for the tip total in a night. And I'm sure most people wouldn't give any number you use a second thought unless it were truly outrageous. (ie. Bob took home at least $6300 in tips each night.

 

[Whispersecret]

Hey, thanks, you guys! I really appreciate the help. Mustang, thanks for finding that error! <smooches>

 

[gordito]

average tip

It is not uncommon for a person now a days to make 300$ in one night. In most of the places where the average cover or entree is in the neighborhood of 15-20$ it is not hard at all. If a waiter or waitress works consistantly they can build up a very loyal clientel.

Another reason the tips are so good is that not only do they tip for food but also for drinks and for parties of six and some for parties of four the tip is added onto the bill.

Gordito

 

[Ambrosious]

<booming disc jockey voice>

Hey guys! Don't forget to take care of your wonderful wait staff and bodacious bartenders. They are working hard to take care of you! Just think, without them, you would not be sporting the buzz you have right now. Now that we've made some dough, on with the show.

This time around we have Cherry on the main stage, and Angel grinding on the satellite. Girls gone bad. How about a little appreciation for the ladies? First of three in a row with Cherry and Angel!

Sorry, happens everytime I hear the word "waitress".

 

[Ksss]

Thank you for the kind words Ambrosious, too many forget that without us there wouldn't be the enjoyment of dining out. Just a little waitstaff trivia: We must endure the boorish acts of people with a smile on our faces, bending over backwards to satisfy them so we can, hopefully, get a monetary "reward" from them. We get paychecks that would make most laugh at, because of our tips (but, if we were paid what we are worth many wouldn't be able to afford to dine out).I just received, earlier in the year, my first "raise in 7 years. My pay scale is now $3.30/hr. We are taxed a percentage of our gross sales (whether or not we receive a tip), a percentage the goevernment is trying to raise (currently now 8-10%, the government is trying to raise it to 16% of gross sales). If you do the math, for the person who leaves a 10% tip, we must claim all 10%, we are taxed on that 10%, which means we actually end up paying the government. And the more ritzy places which take credit cards, the waitstaff can't "hide" cash tips, they must claim the total of their tips. So, please, for all of the waitstaff out there, whether they be waiters, waitresses, or bartenders remember to tip them fairly. Bad service, in my opinion and I have been doing this for over 20 years, requires a low to no tip. But for the good people out there, great service expects a great tip, and if this place is someplace where you frequent often, the waitstaff will remember you!
Opps, jumping down off my soapbox now....sorry all!