DO YOU TIP APPROPRIATELY?

Recently, I was dining at a trendy Manhattan restaurant with 2 of my friends. Once I received the bill, I noticed there was an 18% tip listed. What happened to the standard 15% tip for small parties and an 18% tip for larger groups (i.e., 5 people)? Even though I would have left the waiter an 18% tip anyway because he provided excellent service, the restaurant’s tipping policy is in poor taste. Needless to say, I won’t be revisiting that establishment.
 
Cosmopolites should be very good tippers. The following is a listing of services and corresponding minimum rates to insure promptness/properness/politeness:
 
  • Barber - $3
  • Bartender - $2 per drink or 15% of the total bill if you run up a huge tab
  • Chambermaid - $1 left on the bed pillow daily
  • Chauffer - 15%
  • Coat check or washroom attendant - $1
  • Doorman or skycap - $1 per luggage
  • Hairstylist - $5 plus $1 to the person who shampooed your hair
  • Maitre d’ - $5 or 5% of your bill if he pulled strings to sit you at the best seat in
    the house or if he put your name on a full reservations list
  • Starbucks and other coffee shop staff -$1 per cup
  • Taxi driver – 15% if the fare is at least $10, otherwise $1 plus the change
  • Valet parking attendant - $2