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Philadelphia...

Zagat: Phila. tippers are nation’s biggest

By Peter Mucha

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

"Philadelphians are the most generous tippers in the nation," according to a news release from Zagat, announcing the official publication today of its 2009 guide to Philadelphia area restaurants.

Also deserving of major kudos is the Four Seasons Hotel's Fountain Restaurant, named tops in three categories: food, decor and service.

Stephen Starr's Buddakan, though, was named most popular, followed by Amada, Le Bec-Fin, Alma de Cuba and Capital Grille.

Top newcomers, in order, are Cochon, a Queen Village BYO; Azie, an Asian fusion spot in Media; Vietnam Cafe in West Philadelphia; Supper, which serves upscale American on South Street; and Bindi, a modern Indian BYO in Center City.

According to Zagat - or at least the 5,507 local diners who reported on their preferences and habits to Zagat - people in the Philadelphia area leave an average tip of 19.6 percent.

New Yorkers leave 19 percent - the national average - while folks in L.A. leave 18.4.

Last year, Denver was No. 1, adding 19.5 percent to bills for gratuities. Philadelphia and Detroit tied for second, at 19.4 percent.

The new slim burgundy guide, titled 2009 Philadelphia Restaurants, has thumbnail reports and ratings on more than 1,000 restaurants in the region, from South Jersey to Wilmington to Lancaster.

Respondents, who average 2.6 meals a week at restaurants, said their favorite cuisines were Italian (28 percent), American (14), Japanese (11), French (10), Mexican (10) and Thai (9).

About 25 percent of area diners make reservations online, compared to only 14 percent in L.A. and an impressive 43 percent in San Francisco.

The $14.95 guide was edited by Inquirer Table Talk and Inqlings columnist Michael Klein and Sharon Gintzler and coordinated by Marilyn Kleinberg.

I'll bet they red-lined West Philly out of that Survey.

Yet another benefit to the Iverson trade...

ZING! NTF.

Anyone with means who tips less than 20% ought be shot.

And anyone without should stay the F home.

Or go to McDonald's

i believe that would be pronounced-

MACK-donalds.

Yo Homie in 736-

Y'all been stealin' our verbiage for years, yo


Stop perpetratin that fraud

On that note...

I tip at Mack-Donalds, deli's, bagel joints, subway etc...

Which leads to the question of how many folks tip on takeout from a regular restaurant?

Subway, McDonald's, no.

Take-out pizza, taking the kids to Dairy Queen or something, usually I give what I call a "remainder tip" Example, bill comes to $13, pat with a ten and a five, leave the $2 change in the tip jar. In some cases I'll leave something more significant, but usually it's what's left over from the bills I pay with.

Only time I tip on take out is when there is a sushi chef involved.

Even working in the business, I never tipped on take out until I started working at my new place.

It seems casual dining joints rotate servers into handling take out orders, but don't pay them a penny more (4 bucks an hour here in NY). So essentially if they aren't tipped these servers are working for free that shift. And regardless of pay, most of these servers will tell you that take out is more work than a regular section.

I handle the late night take out where I am. I'd say half of the customers tip something.

i usually tip when i pick up food, but not for fast food or pizza. i usually only give three or four dollars, though, sort of a courtesy. i certainly don't feel it's necessary to tip the usual 20% for someone to hand me a bag of food.



love the tipping threads.

I should amend - if the take out in question is being picked up at the bar, I'll leave a few bucks.

If I order take-out from a real restaraunt, I'll leave the server a couple of dollars. Fast food places I do not tip.

What do you guys typically give for a tip for the kid who dries off your car at the carwash?

two bucks at the carwash.

Car wash kid gets 5-10 bucks depending on the job he does.

Tipping take out is a tough one. There is really no standard in the industry on how it is taken care of.

For Example:
Red Lobster's - the bartender's take care of it start to finish just like if you were sitting at the bar.

My current employer had cashier's in the beginning who were paid hourly to take take out orders. Then the owner figured out they were making tips as well, so he pawned it off on the servers/bartenders. Cheap fucker that he is.

I'm told at Chili's the take out crew only hands you your food and takes your money.

It is a tough one, so I normally tip 15% to be safe.

you give a 5 to 10 dollar tip on a carwash that itself costs no more than ten bucks, munch?

"Red Lobster's - the bartender's take care of it start to finish just like if you were sitting at the bar."




Uh, that sounds like the definition of "Fucked" to me, or "Worst Bartending Job on the Planet".

I never understood why people tip 'Coffee Baristas' (AKA, people who press a button just to fill your cup) but rarely bother tipping people who work behind a deli counter. The latter does 10 times the work but gets 1/8 the monetary recognition.

The car-wash here is more like 20 bucks.

To be fair they spend about 20 mins cleaning windows, door jams, wheels, tires in addition to towel drying the car.

GGB,

All Darden owned restaurants have the reputation of being the worst jobs ever. My bar is across the street from one and I get to hear all the employee gripes on Friday Night late night happy hour.

It is basically criminal the way their employees are treated.

I would think the issue there is more the clientele, and the fact that we are actually discussing whether a tip needs to be given.

I never understood why people tip 'Coffee Baristas' (AKA, people who press a button just to fill your cup) but rarely bother tipping people who work behind a deli counter. The latter does 10 times the work but gets 1/8 the monetary recognition

FOr just filling up a coffee cup, no, but for making those weird pain in the balls drinks like lattes, yes.

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