So Pithy

Tipping is not a science. There are, however, some rules. Normally, at the sorts of restaurants I go to, 15%-20% is a good rule of thumb. However, there are occasions when under-tipping is acceptable. These include especially poor service (are you listening, Deb?), buffets, etc. Of course, regularly tipping 10% or less, especially at a restaurant you frequent, isn’t acceptable. We have a regular waitress at Olive Garden back home, and the fact that we tip her relatively well has led her to learn what we like, how, and when. But neither is automatically tipping a set amount (high or low) a good idea.