Someone took me to lunch the other day and paid with a credit card using whatever that new fangled machine is that sends the receipt to your email and it just knows you, because most likely you use these things a lot.
This was a place where you order and then they bring the food to you. My friend paid and then went to the bathroom and I realized he hadn’t tipped. The total was $24. All I had was a $20 and a $1, so I put the $1 in the tip jar.
The woman who took our order and was also the cook saw me and very nicely thanked me. I asked her if I could have change for a $20 and then added $5 to the tip jar. She thanked me very effusively this time.
As we sat waiting for our food I asked my friend if he had tipped. He hadn’t and saw no reason why he should. (I should stop and explain I am using the term “friend” lightly here.)
I explained to him that as a former waitress and bartender I know folks count on tips to make their wages even close to minimum wage. I also explained that this kind of place where you pay first and then they bring you the food is the best place to tip well. It almost always guarantees good service.
I explained to him that when I have to take one of my pets in for a medical procedure early in the am and leave them there all day, I bring bagels or really good donuts. That way when people handle my pet, they are thinking “Oh, this one’s owner brought us in the treats”. It’s the best way I know to motivate a bit of extra TLC for my pet.
Really though I shouldn’t have to explain something like tipping, especially at a restaurant, to anyone, I’d hope it's common knowledge. For some basic tips on tipping check emilypost.com/… but keep in mind that Emily Post is a bit outdated. For example she doesn’t even mention how much to tip your drug dealer.