I rarely tip under 20% because no matter what kind of service you provide it is expensive to live in NYC. Plus the waiter has to tip out to the people who actually do all the work, the busboys.

kitchen screw ups - I am pretty forgiving about. forgetting my table, that's a bit harder for me to deal with.

My parents managed/owned a restaurant for almost 40 years. I tend to overtip out of empathy BUT I also don't put up with bad waitstaff (ie, attitude or cold food)

See, around here, 15% is standard, and I usually round to 20% because easier math. But I will go lower for horrendous service that is within the server's control. Like the time I had to be my own server, even getting our meal from the kitchen while the pompous little twit chatted up all his friends. He took our order, throwing attitude the whole time and that was it.

The bill for the table was nearly $100. We left a penny. And complained to the manager the next day.

Also, if you look at the complaints on the site, most of the tips listed are under 10%, which is shitty by anyone's definition. (Assuming that the waitstaff posting are being honest about the quality of service they provided, natch.)

Thinking about it, even being forgotten can be forgiven if the waiter brings it up first. And, I figure everyone can have a bad day. However the guy in sarameg's tale - that's bad.

I really hate our tipping system here. I think it's unfair to the workers and to the customers. I believe that employers ought to be paying their workers a living wage. Then let me know upfront on the menu what prices that can support a living wage for the workers are. If I can afford to, I'll eat there. If I can't, I won't. I tip 15% and always thought that was standard. If 20% is now standard, I'll have to do even less eating out than I do now.

In my opinion, 15% is the paycheck. Good service gets you over that. If you're really, really lousy, I might go a bit below, but not much. This doesn't mean I'll put up with crap, either, but I've certainly been one of those waitresses bitching about the lousy tips.

Spidra, I'm with you. Well, mostly. I mean, the opportunity to earn really good tips can be an enticement, but (particularly at the lower-end restaurants) what you mostly get is cheap tippers and sometimes people who take tips from your other tables. Might have been better off with minimum wage.