The Jazz Kitchen Bill Cluster Fornication

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by SzczerbiakManiac

Has someone suggested this snafu was deliberate? (I ask that sincerely.)

I suggested that the money may have been lifted. There was enough cash sitting around on the table with no one directly watching it and the cash was mis-handled by the server (combining all of the cash even though the bills were separate) for that to happen.

The amount of money missing is large. It is more than any 2 people's dinner combined. It seems like a logical explanation to me because I honestly can't think of any other feasible explanation other than we were charged for items we did not order. If that was the case, I would think we would notice this on the individual bills.

[innerSpaceman]

SM, I see your point about better service being expected in better restaurants, but I don't agree. I'm no more particular in a fine dining establishment than I am at a diner. The same attributes that will get you a better than average tip from me go for any kind of restaurant. Cheerful and effective and reasonably attentive service.

Perhaps super-attentive is expected in finer establishements, but I don't know why. I've gotten just as good and just as lousy service at all levels of restaurant price-point.



But I've "accepted" that the tip is based on the meal price. However, I don't figure alcohol into that price. I still tip a fixed amount on drinks, no matter what they cost, and a tip on food based on its price.


And I've been known to refuse to pay the level of "included gratuity" if the service is substandard. 99% of the time, however, even my standard tip is better than the included gratuity, so this is never an issue. Servers who work at establishments like the Jazz Kitchen that never figure an automatic gratuity get an automatic tip increase from me over the same service at establishments that presume to tell me what I should tip for service.

[Alex]

I'm a generous tipper but find the whole thing stupid. I go along with price driving tip (if only because price is how the Feds will calculate taxes owed) but do place a minimum of $5 on the tip.

If I go to IHOP and eat breakfast for $8, they get $5. Because they work at IHOP. The only other places I regularly tip are:

1. Haircuts (I just go to Supercuts -- you couldn't tell? -- and give $5.
2. Hotel rooms for room service. $1-$2/day of stay (we generally don't let housekeeping in until the last day).
3. Taxis. Because I don't want anybody to say bad things about me in a Slavic language.
4. Those guys who open the cab door for you at Vegas casinos. Because doing so makes me feel like a whale (the good kind, not the kind I am).

Everybody else can go pound sand.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Alex

I'm a generous tipper but find the whole thing stupid. I go along with price driving tip (if only because price is how the Feds will calculate taxes owed) but do place a minimum of $5 on the tip.

If I go to IHOP and eat breakfast for $8, they get $5. Because they work at IHOP. The only other places I regularly tip are:

1. Haircuts (I just go to Supercuts -- you couldn't tell? -- and give $5.
2. Hotel rooms for room service. $1-$2/day of stay (we generally don't let housekeeping in until the last day).
3. Taxis. Because I don't want anybody to say bad things about me in a Slavic language.
4. Those guys who open the cab door for you at Vegas casinos. Because doing so makes me feel like a whale (the good kind, not the kind I am).

Everybody else can go pound sand.

As a former valet, I take umbrage.

Maybe the money was lifted. On the other hand, when I waited tables, I remember watching the busy LA types who had lunch all throw money at the check as if how much it was didn't concern them. Every time that happened, the tip always came out under 15 percent.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

As a former valet, I take umbrage.

To compensate I think I have valet parked a car twice in my life. Once I did tip and once I would have but the guy who brought my car up ran off for another car when I was nowhere near him. Wasn't sure if I was expected to just throw the money after him.

Since the only place I'm ever likely to valet park is Vegas I'll lump them into the "people who open car doors for me" category.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, there was no one in that room when we finished dinner other than the restaurant staff and members of our party.

I can't think of how this happened either, but I personally can't attribute it to outright theivery without some evidence.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

The "devolved" comment was in reference to Kevy talking about using sex as a gratuity.

Why do I always get blamed for these things?

I mean, it is a very logical assumption, but still...

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I'd just like to point out that "The Jazz Kitchen Bill Cluster Fornication" would make an excellent band name.

Okay, that made me laugh heartily, which is a bad thing to do at work because then I have to explain why I was laughing.

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

Agree but will play devil's advocate as this is something that always puzzled me.

Is the servers job harder at a more expensive restaurant than a TGI Friday's or Denny's? The food is much cheaper at those sorts of places (which I don't frequent anyway, but for the sake of the argument) but are they working any less hard?

Anyway, I agree you tip on pre-discount but you also tip on pre-tax. Those pretty much net out in this case.

My rule of thumb is that all servers get 20%, regardless of location and regardless of alcohol vs. not (and you probably won't find me ordering a $500 bottle of wine). Bad service gets less and when exceptional, I give more. I also tend to round up.

Also, I tip post-tax, but that is just me. I accept that other's opinions vary on this.

Is it safe to post my address here?

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Is it safe to post my address here?

?

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Is it safe to post my address here?

It's safe to post your e-mail address linked to your paypal account though so we can send you some money via that channel.

Resistance is futile Kevy. We'll find a way to slip it to you.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Chernabog

It's safe to post your e-mail address linked to your paypal account though so we can send you some money via that channel.

And for added convenience, please include your bank account #, last 4 of your social, mother's maiden, and the name of your first pet.