I put a stack of dollars bills on the table (estimating what the tip will be)

excellent service they get it all

I take a bill off of the stack for every mistake.

They get what is left

Bit like how the Rabbi and the Priest divied up the weekly collection.
The Priest said the Bishop gave him a percentage back for the church and his keep.
Rabbi said he puts it all on a plate, throws it in the air, God take what he needs, all that comes down is his.

Ask and you shall receive??

20% is easier for me to calculate but the process is the same.

I do get annoyed at the suggestion that 22%, 25%, or even 28% should be the new norm. In those cases I fight the urge to under-tip on general principles.

That is my point. It depends on the size of the bill. If it was under $20, they were being generous and if it was in the hundreds, they were being cheap.

$5 tip at any restaurnt is more than enough. Tipping encourages these uneducated wait staff to not seek a better job.

Those who overtip are trying to play Frank Sinatra. Big timers tipping 50%…while sharing the chepest meal with their spouse while drinking nothing but water.

WOW... Your distain of waitstaff workers is astounding...

Please stay out of restaurants and eat at home.

Agree- Must be nice to have a business where you can have the customers pay the employees wages

Customers always pay employees wages... One way or another...

I would prefer them to pay income taxes on their wages like most people do.

You seem to be implying that tipped employees are not taxed on their tips. Didn't a previous discussion on that topic show that they *are* taxed on tips to include an amount calculated from the total receipts of the business?

They only pay tax on 8 percent of the restaurant's reported gross income. That is an IRS rule. But many posters are suggesting that people who tip 15 percent are undertipping. I go with the flow when tipping because money is not a consideration, but tipped employees are not paying income tax on their total income. I could be wrong, but I think restaurants are losing business because of mediocre food and service. I know that my visits to restaurants have significantly declined because of it. I think restaurants could provide better service if they had more control over their employees' income.

there are anumber of restaurants with good food and service:
BlueFin. Chop House Coastal del Mar, Harvest, Havana, Lopez Sakura Mezza Luna Bamboo Bistro Tequila Cantina and more.