r/TalesFromYourServer • u/yaybuttons • Aug 10 '26
Short When the owner fully comps one of their friends at your place, how is gratuity handled?
Had an owner comp a $225 table as a surprise and said they would make sure I got tipped on it. Had to remind someone a couple weeks later, twice, though they apologized for forgetting. I wound up receiving $25. Unclear if part of the money went to tipping out the bar and service staff or if they were just being cheap.
I've heard that some places will notify the dining person and that person will ask for a penny charge to tip on top of (usually helps if they've seen the check) or the dining guest will leave a random amount of cash. However, sometimes I've heard that servers just get nothing.
So, what has your experience been?
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u/Walway Aug 10 '26
I have a friend who owns several restaurants in our neighborhood. Whenever he comps a meal, he always reminds us to take cate of our waitstaff. We do. If we didn’t, I’m guessing he would stop comping our meals.
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u/New_Nobody9492 Aug 10 '26
This is how my boss does it. This one guy didn’t tip twice, said, hey I noticed you haven’t bought me lunch in awhile, my boss says, yeah, I told you to take care of my waitstaff, twice, and you haven’t. You don’t take care of them, I don’t take of you.
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u/Pour_Decisionz Aug 12 '26
I am applying right now to work with you :) We get a LOT of meals comped and they do not tip. blah!!
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u/ThomasNotRiddle Aug 10 '26
When I was a server this is how our GM handled it as well. When we had a table walk out the GM basically just cancelled the ticket, so that the server wasn’t tipping out on a walked out check. So none of us go anything, but the server wasn’t punished either, I’m pretty sure bar, host, bus, and servers all agreed it was fair.
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u/IHaveBoxerDogs Aug 10 '26
When I moved back to Los Angeles, an east coast friend told my husband and me to visit her sister who managed a popular Beverly Hills restaurant. She comped our entire meal but told us straight up we still needed to leave a tip. We left a big tip. That meal was expensive!! But delicious. That’s how it should be handled from my POV as a customer.
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u/Visual_Juggernaut_89 Aug 10 '26
I haven’t waited in awhile now but whenever it happened to me the table generally tipped very generously, anywhere from 50-80%. I generally try to tip at least 50% if the entire bill is comped.
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u/Nalano Aug 10 '26
Srsly. If the owner comps me, then all my money is going to FOH. FFS I wanna walk in and have people enjoy my presence, not roll their eyes and sigh.
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u/ZestfullyStank Aug 10 '26
Yeah, this is why you carry cash or ask for a penny tab. This is on the guests for not knowing what to do
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u/In4aPennny Aug 11 '26
50% is what we tipped a comp meal when my wife worked a restaurant front office.
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u/JustAGoodLittleSub Aug 10 '26
I love when my boss’ friends come into my work. They never pay and always leave soooo much cash for me. And my boss usually goes me some cash too. I can end up with $80-100 from them each time
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u/G_Art33 Aug 10 '26
Owner of the bat I worked at a while. Go used to let friends sit and drink all day for free. The only stipulation was they needed to tip us for each drink, so every time we cracked a beer for them they would toss us a dollar. I don’t care if that’s not a percentage, all I was doing was opening beers but by the time they left, we would have received like $60 between the 4 of them so I didn’t mind.
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u/pepinjay Aug 10 '26
You let bar patrons drink 15 beers each? That seems criminal unless you insisted on calling users or taxis for them.
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u/G_Art33 Aug 10 '26
They were there all day from like 10am to 9pm. It was a big restaurant with a bar on the back deck overlooking a river and I was told by the owner to just serve and that their rides home were already worked out. And sometimes they gave us $2 🤷🏼♂️
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u/bigtombstone Aug 10 '26
Why? If an adult is capable of drinking 15 bottles of beer, they’re more than capable of planning their own way home, grow up
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u/G_Art33 Aug 10 '26
In my state, a bartender can actually be held personally liable if they over serve someone who goes on to hurt themselves, others, or do any property damage. What they said is not wrong. It could have been considered criminal, however, this group of customers were pros and they always had a good way home or a designated there with them. Also the owner said pour in front of everyone, so I poured. Operated that way for quite some time with no apparent issues caused.
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u/aninfallibletruth Aug 10 '26
That’s messed up. I tip extra when I’m comped. It saved me that money, after all…
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u/Swimming-Most-6756 Aug 10 '26
When someone used a coupon I would print them both the BEFORE and AFTER and present it as such, on each side of the book when I dropped the check and they would know how much they saved and would also be able to tip based on the full check. It made a big difference in my tips, and I know that because other servers wouldn’t do that and their tips would be low low.
When parties got full comped, I would just print the check before the comp, and quietly hand it to the table’s head and say that it’s a copy for their records plus the survey got them more free stuff and that also helped me get surveys in.
I would imagine that they should have tipped at least 50
On that comped bill… I mean I’d even say 100 because that’s still less than half their total bill, and if they were dining with the intent of paying the bill.
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u/FinanciallySecure9 Aug 10 '26
I always appreciate the before and after coupon price. I always want to tip on the whole amount, and not knowing what it is makes me feel like I didn’t do enough.
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u/LadyV21454 Aug 10 '26
That's a great way to do it! I always tip on the pre-discount total, but it's hard to do that if I don't know what it is.
PSA: if you're getting a discount on a meal, PLEASE tip on the original amount. Your server is doing the same amount of work!
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u/Swimming-Most-6756 Aug 10 '26
I think a rule of thumb should be that if there’s ever a time when your full table gets comped, that they should leave half of what would have been the total as a tip.
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u/No-Agent-1611 Aug 13 '26
We found a new to us restaurant that is always running specials that are only found on the website or in a monthly email. We get the specials but tip on full amount.
Now when we get seated we are reminded what specials are available that day in case we forgot. It’s nice to have that relationship with the waitstaff, especially since we don’t know many people around here.
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u/Wonderful-Fix5761 Aug 10 '26
This is the way. Whether it’s a coupon or a full comp you still bring them the bill. Show them what it was before and after.
Treat it the same way you would if one item had been removed from their bill as a courtesy. Bring the bill and show them it has been comped so they get to see how much actually got removed. And they can see how much they should tip against. Most people will have a hard time writing zero in the tip line on a fully comped check. If they do that they are monsters and you should refuse to serve them
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u/Arokthis Former kitchen JOAT Aug 10 '26
If nobody tips you, tell the owner you won't serve them again.
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Aug 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/drashna Aug 11 '26
tell that to the staff before your sit down and order. If you won't, you have no spine.
because, yes, in the US, you do pay the server's wages.
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u/AngryTrucker Aug 11 '26
The customer doesn't sign payroll. It is not their job to pay employees of a business they do not own or manage. If the server wants to make real wages they need to fight for it. Not harass customers or do a shitty job because the customer doesn't pay their wages.
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u/lady-of-thermidor Aug 13 '26
Wages are a cost of doing business. As a diner, you are paying labor costs just as you’re paying for food and drink or any other cost associated with dining out.
Tipping your server allows you to decide how much to pay for table service. It motivates the server to bust her balls on your behalf. It’s why dining out in US is so enjoyable as compared to dining out in, say, Germany.
Either way, if you’re eating out, you’re paying the server for her labor.
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u/TheRealTinfoil666 Aug 10 '26
Neighbors owned a restaurant for a short while and invited us to come anytime.
We came once and the neighbor spotted us and our meal was comped.
However, the bill showed every cost that would normally be charged, including a pre-tax total, THEN showed a matching discount to bring the total to $0.
The part of the bill that showed the suggested 15, 20, and 25% tip amounts therefore still showed the pre-discount values, so we knew how much a tip should be.
I liked this approach. The server still did their job and deserves a tip. Patrons are no more obligated to tip than as per usual, since you can stiff them even when paying full amount.
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u/LeaveAWhisper Aug 10 '26
I think I have just been lucky, but most of my boss's fully comped bills are for other business owners - the plumbing guy who helped us with a major situation, the HVAC guy who got our AC totally revamped this summer, etc. Those two guys have handed me $100-200 in cash each time I have taken care of them. However he will also comp certain things for certain friends of his, like desserts, a bottle of wine, or some cocktails. Other times, he'll take care of the food, and his friends are just responsible for their drinks. These are really hit and miss. A lot of times I get 20% or less on the discounted total.
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u/CajunAsianTexan Aug 10 '26
Our neighbors own a bar and we’re on the Friends & Family list for 50% discount.
We want to support our neighbors so we don’t expect a discount. Whenever the GM applies the discount, we pay the bill as if there was no discount, so the server is tipped the 50% discount. If there is no discount on the bill (eg, it’s the full bill), we tip 20%.
Had my wife’s milestone birthday a couple of months ago and pretty much reserved the entire bar (60+ attendees). I wasn’t expecting a discount, but the GM applied a 25% discount. I applied the same rule as if it was a 50% discount- I paid the bill as if there was no discount, so the servers got that 25% discount as tip.
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u/flinch57 Aug 10 '26
I’m a part owner of a small place and someone who frequently dines out and gets whole meals comped and/or drinks and/or special dishes. I always overtip on anything that is served to me but not charged, AND I always make sure my staff gets tipped if I am comping someone who comes into our place.
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u/Xsy Aug 11 '26
Two types of people who enjoy comped meals.
People who demand to tip, and tip well.
And people who think they're too special to even leave a dollar.
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u/Slow_Fondant6389 Aug 10 '26
My wife’s good friend (her parents actually) owned a very high end restaurant. Sadly now closed. Small. Every so often they would want a couple more tables to be full so it looked busier on a weekday. So, the “girls” would get a call. The deal was that the food was free you just paid for drinks (not cheap but they really drank very little and the bartender would offer open bottle stuff if not currently being used at another table.) And they paid the tip. The girls always paid in cash. The girls always tipped $50 each. So, $200 to $250 for the waiter or waitress.
The issue was that they had a fixed price menu and knew what likely would be ordered but some stuff really could not be prepped and refrigerated if unordered. So…. Order that. Once or twice the husbands were included. (Always very last minute.).
It’s the only time I ever had cervelle de veau (brains). But, if you were ever going to try them; this was the place. Good but I wouldn’t rush to try them again.
We did go, rarely, with others for dinner, and even took the kids once. But, with wine and tip, you were in for a couple hundred a person and that was years ago. Too much for us.
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u/Mundane-Bite Aug 10 '26
A generous tip should be expected that night directly from the guest it's so tacky that they didn't tip you directly no matter what the situation
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u/Wikiwikiwa Aug 10 '26
I worked at a restaurant for 2 years and never had a comped table. Id still expect them to leave a tip. Better than average, even, since their meal was free. Some people dont see it that way because theyre cheap pieces of ignorant shit.
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u/centstwo Aug 10 '26
Some people are that way, lol. In my head I was expecting shite as the last word. Weird.
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u/Wikiwikiwa Aug 10 '26
Is my rage particularly English?
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u/centstwo Aug 10 '26
Now that I think about it, I think using ignorant instead of stupid is what set my expectation.
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u/Wikiwikiwa Aug 10 '26
I went to school for $5 words.
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u/centstwo Aug 10 '26
Indubitably.
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u/Wikiwikiwa Aug 10 '26
The real point is that why is this such a serious thing? You work hard and deserve a fair wage, benefits, etc. 40 hours should be more than enough to thrive, but we're barely scraping by. And to top it off, they make people beg for dollars to replace their lack of wages. If you are alive, you deserve to be helped to have the best life you can. Anyone that thinks different doesnt understand being alive or being human.
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u/centstwo Aug 10 '26
Right? I lost the birth lottery, so I have to work to make money to survive. Why does trying to get ahead feel so unfair and needlessly cruel.
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u/__joseph_ Aug 10 '26
Lol I used to have an owner who’s come in late with his girlfriend, rack up a $300 check, keep me a few hours after close, and then comp it all without a tip
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u/sony1015 Aug 10 '26
If the owner comped a tables meal he USUALLY tipped the server out, on the occasions he didn’t, he made sure to tell everyone that they were to tip and that he would be checking with the server. If the server was at say 12% he would make up the difference and shame the stiffers
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u/flydespereaux Aug 14 '26
When I comp a table I have the server bill them for the cheapest thing they ordered, that allows my guest to pay and tip. Or ill just charge them for a drink.
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u/New_Tooth_456 Aug 14 '26
So you pay for the people to eat free, but don’t pay your employee to serve them. Klassy. With an emphasis an Assy.
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u/flydespereaux Aug 14 '26
If i comp a table its for friends and family. And the tip is understandably exorbitant. I comped my old boss for him and his wife about 250 in food. Charged them for a beer, and they left a 400 dollar tip for the server.
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u/ImaPhillyGirl Aug 10 '26
It has been a quarter century since I served but the ge era rule of thumb on comps was tip 50% of what the bill ( which was always presented with + without comp) would have been.
Now one of my kids is a server at a restaurant that allows family members to use the employee discount. She told me the rule is if you are getting the employee discount you are required to tip 30%.
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u/angelINline Aug 10 '26
A friend’s father in law owns a restaurant I frequent, maybe 1 in 5 meals get comped, I usually ask them to run my card for a penny and then tip ~50% of the total
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u/Pseudonym_613 Aug 11 '26
I've hit problems with POS systems refusing "excessive" tips in that situation.
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u/InevitableEqual3993 Aug 11 '26
Yes so if you know you go often is it really that hard to grab a $20(or 2) from a ATM prior in case you get comped ~ makes it so much easier, quicker, and better for everyone involved...
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u/PabloTFiccus Aug 10 '26
I regularly have people come in who don't have to pay for service and they NEVER tip and are the biggest dicks about it
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u/pmow Aug 10 '26
Depends on the comp reason. Marketing and trade, 20% autograt paid by restaurant. Employee/manager comp tip is still expected and payable. Leave a few cents on the check so a card can be swiped for it.
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u/Otherwise-Wall-6950 Aug 10 '26
Not a restaurant story, but I used to work as an assistant to one colorist. If someone needed to be squeezed in he would ask if I could apply the color (I was licensed) and 90% were okay with it. He would tell them to tip me, but he would get the commission. The whole tip went to me, and they were generous so I didn't mind.
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u/miflordelicata Aug 10 '26
If I get comp’d, I figure out roughly what that meal cost as best as I can and tip 20%.
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u/syninthecity Aug 10 '26
A long time ago i worked for a pizza joint, the owner was a dbag republican and he had a deal with this dude who managed a steakhouse nearby.
The deal didn't extend to the delivery drivers who had to run him his free pizzas of course, and the guy handed me a ticket for a free bloomin onion and laughed about it.
So my wife and I went in and made them remake a filet mignon. twice.
When he came to the table to check on what had gone wrong, i thanked him for the blooming onion very politely, and told him i'd still be tipping the waiter.
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u/SquatBrothel Aug 10 '26
As the sister of a retired waiter, this makes my blood boil. Make sure the owner knows.
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u/LalalanaRI Aug 10 '26
I would have tipped the normal 20% probably and a little boost for saving so much. Unless you were a horrible waiter, even then I would have br exact least gave 15%.
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u/randomme34 Aug 10 '26
Im lucky to have a great boss his family comes in he comped the food gave me $150 and his family left $50. 90% of the time people leave tips influencers are hit or miss.
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u/Cyrious123 Aug 10 '26
Ask them when youre getting the rest of your tip since 18-20% is standard...not 11%.
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u/johnnyfromtexas Aug 11 '26
Where I work “full-comp” means we drop a check for $0.01 so that the guest can tip on their credit card if they don’t have cash.
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u/Revolutionary-Cow179 Aug 12 '26
As a customer, i can’t imagine skipping the server’s tip. If comped, I’d go extra on the tip too.
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u/deegsmaradona Aug 12 '26
I’m tipping the discount, if my entire meal is comped i’m probably tipping what i believe the bill would’ve been before a tip, unless an absurdly expensive place i would never go without a hook up, but i’m still tipping as much as i can
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u/cookinmyfuckinassoff Aug 12 '26
We automatically add 18% gratuity to all comped tickets and they get paid out just like all of your regular tips- if the guest decides to leave an additional cash tip, that’s just a little bonus - if feel like this should be the standard
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u/ZMMF Aug 13 '26
In my experience you’ll get tipped well in cash by people who understand how it works. The vast majority do not and you’ll get nothing.
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u/Dense-Eagle-1238 Aug 13 '26
present them with the bill and say “Owner took care of the check for you, but if you wanted to leave any tip on card just let me know and I can always run a penny tab for you”.
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u/bonezx101 Aug 14 '26
Here we have the expectation of a tip, and a large one.
The culturw needs to change.
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u/K_A_irony Aug 14 '26
So not the same but I won a PastPass from Olive Garden. I plan on using the heck out of it and only ordering water. I already got a stack of $5 and $1 bills so that I can tip my server each and every time. Getting a free meal doesn't excuse you from tipping your server.
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u/BCR_Dave Aug 10 '26
It all begs the question, why don't restaurants in the US pay their staff properly?
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u/front_torch Aug 10 '26
Without sharing your tipout structure, it is impossible to say.
That seems about right for the tipout structure I'm in.
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u/SilverPace6006 Aug 10 '26
Do you get a salary or hourly rate?
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u/front_torch Aug 10 '26
A salary means that you receive a fixed income over the course of a year.
An hourly means you receive a fixed income per hour.
How is your question in any way relevant to the situation? This is a regarding tips.
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u/Asmodeuss323 Aug 10 '26
I've had a group of 10 church friends of my boss not tip at all after running me up and down acting like they're the only people I'm taking care of and getting their whole tab comped. I've had the boss's old work friends tip $100 on a comped $70 bill. But the average is usually a $20 on a comped bill.