Do You Tip on Takeout?

Tip well if you order from the same places consistently. The delivery drivers work for peanuts. We usually give $4 -5 to the driver.

I do not tip for takeout.
However, I might consider tipping for a very large or complicated order or if I use the car side service.

I have worked at and managed several restaurants. Tipping is for the waitstaff, not the cooks.Take out is cooked by the same people who cook everything else, and typically packaged by a member of the management team or a host/hostess. The rates of pay of all of these staff members is well above what the waitstaff makes, and they do not rely on tips. Waitstaff often make less than minimum wage for base pay, and their tips make up the difference. The current federal minimum wage for a tipped employee is $2.13 per hour, so they rely on customers to make up the difference. This is why it's so important to tip at least 17% or more. That being said, ask who packaged your meal. If it was a member of the waitstaff, absolutely leave a tip, if it was any other staff member, while undoubtedly the tips will be appreciated, especially in today's economy, it isn't necessary. (But it is nice.)

Edit: I did not take your question to men delivery drivers, but yes absolutely tip drivers.

I tip if it is a restaurant that a server does all of the work, such as Outback's curbside take away. But if it's a Chinese restaurant, or pizza place and I go to pick up, I DO NOT tip.

I was a hostess in a restaurant and handled all the take out orders. I would have to take the orders over the phone. Which I assure you is more difficult than taking an order face to face. Then pack them up, put the correct condiments in the bag, also plastic-ware, napkins, etc.

About 80% of the customers would throw me a few dollars when they picked up their orders. Did they have to? Probably not. But, I certainly remembered the customers that did. They always got a few extra ketchups. ;)

No, we do not tip on take-out.

Your husband is correct. There is no need to tip on takeout. It is not the same. You do not have a server who takes your order, brings you your food, brings you drinks, checks on your table a couple times throughout your meal, gets you anything else you need, gives you refills, etc. Now, if money is no object and you have tons of it to burn and feel like "putting the employees through college" (as my father says), then go ahead and tip them and make their day (however, you will piss off your husband, and he is MUCH more important than employees in a restaurant).

I worked in the service industry for several years and I'm saddened by most of these comments! ALWAYS TIP!!! These delivery guys RELY on our tips! Whether it's Chinese food, pizza, or whatever, we should give them $1 per order, like Kristina M. said.

I look at it this way-if I am fortunate enough to be able to afford take out then I need to tip whoever took care of me/got me my food cause everyone of those folks in the restaurant are busting their butts.

Ok, just so you know ... Servers (in most states) min wage is 2.25/hr: Take out servers get the same min wage as the state requires. With that said I typically will tip a dollar per meal item for takeout as opposed to % based like for a server.

It depends on the location and how much of their business is set up to be takeout. If if is a to-go place like Chick Fil A or pizza, I usually don't tip unless it is delivered (and then I tip the driver) I usually tip at a restaurant for a to go meal that I pick up or they deliver to the car-usually 8 to 10% of the order unless I ask for something very special or they throw in something extra.

On delivery, we give the driver a couple of bucks. On takeout, I also usually tip a couple of bucks, but my husband does not. I'm really uncomfortable about tipping in general - I never know what's an appropriate amount or who to tip. I wish everyone could just be paid accordingly, things could be priced accordingly and tipping could just go away completely, like in many other countries.

if its delivered, very much so, if you go pick it up from a counter id say nah. Tipping is about service. you basically served yourself.

but i literally NEVER do that, (take out) i usually have it delivered or eat at the actual restaraunt, in which case i tip well.

If there's a tip bucket we throw a dollar in it.

I presume you mean when you pick it up yourself because OF COURSE YOU TIP THE DELIVERY GUY!!!!... :) I tipped (and still do) for take out I pick up myself just as a veteran of food service from long ago and knowing how much tips mean to the staff and how low on cash everyone is. Tips are left for the servers (or even cashier or cleaning person-whatever) even if they didn't serve you. Or shoot, the "chefs" in pizza joints don't mind a couple of extra bucks-who does? However a couple of times in the past several years, we've been super low on cash and I just picked up the food with a thank you, and of course the staff took it as normal since many people don't tip when they pick up. but I didn't like myself :(
As for the lady's dad below, many employees actually are trying to put themselves or their kids through college with their job like anyone else and it's much harder. Its more than just making their day, but making days is nice too. Why in god's name would you not tip if you could? I would have given my dad some cr__ for that bourgeois statement, and my husband would KNOW better than to get pissed if I tip someone. Not saying yours gets pissed.

I tip but not the same percentage than if I was dining in, but always $2 or $3 dollars tip for takeout should be OK.

If the service was particularly helpful, I might put $1 in the tip jar. But if it's a 30-second interaction at Chinese takeout or picking up a pizza, I don't tip. The tip isn't meant to be for the chef, it's meant to be for the servers. If there's no server, there's no need to tip. You can if you want but it's not expected.

If it is a restaurant that I frequent, I tip. If it is a one time deal, no.

Delivery...absolutely. Take-out....no. Delivery drivers, bar staff and wait staff, bussers and runners make lower than minimum wage because they are eligilble for tips. Kitchen staff makes minimum or more than minimum depending on their experience. When I go to the drive up window at my local Japanese restaurant and see the sign that says tips are appreciated I get a little peeved. My husband has been in and out of the restaurant business all his life. I am a VERY generous tipper when it is warranted. If you have plenty of money and want to give it to those that make less than you, that's your choice.

Regards,

M.

PS Delivery charges NEVER go to the delivery person. Always to the restaurant....

I have worked as a cook/ waitress/ bartender/ owner of a mom and pop type cafe. At my place and all the places I have worked at its not just the cook that touches your food for a take out order. Plus with all of them, the cooks do not get paid great either like some think. If tips are split between everyone we count on your tip as a cook just as much as the waitress does. Just because you don't sit down to eat, someone still took your order, someone still cooked that food, someone still put your food in take out orders and someone still handled your money. In all honestly you tip not just based on your service.. if your sitting down to eat and the quality of your food does count on how you tip. The way I look at it is its a 50/50 job... tips are based on the quality of the food and the service from your server. So YES tip even on take out.. but not as much as you would if you were sitting there. Plus in all honesty.. if your a regular and don't tip even for take out.. they don't put as much effort on it. I will admit to being guilty of that one! Plus if nothing else... isn't worth a few bucks just not have to cook and clean up the mess for that meal?

I always leave around 2-3 dollars. Not really much more than that. Oh, and i took your question as "take out" meaning you are picking up food from a dine in restaurant where you would normally have a server come to your table... (not picking up pizza, chick-fil-a, chinese, etc) at those places, no i dont tip.

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