The gratuity. Once it was to show your gratitude towards your server. Now it's expected that one includes the gratuity. I am fine with this. I try to tip as well as I can. I can't say I'm the best tipper but I'm definitely not the worst. I never tip below 10% and try to tip an average of 15%. Then there are those occasions that I go well beyond that. Why do we tip? Mostly because it's now expected from us, we are in a time where tipping is just second nature. I do it because I respect our restaurant staff. I know many that have to work in the restaurant business and it's hard work.

In Vancouver, your server only gets minimum wage and makes most of their money through tips. It's hard to wait on so many tables, serve so many people and be friendly at the same time. But what most people don't realize is that they don't get all that tip that you give them. It gets divided up between the entire staff. The kitchen staff gets half and the floor staff gets half. And in the end, your server only gets a small percentage of what you tipped him/her. So just because you don't think s/he deserves it, certainly the chef does or the bartender that mixed your drink does.

What I don't understand are those who don't tip at all. There must be a reasoning behind it. There has to be a reasoning behind ordering a drink at $4.75 or so and only leaving $5 as the bill arrives. That doesn't even cover the liquor tax. Did you think that would cover for tip? I can't stand going to a restaurant with someone like that. Respect those around you trying to make a living because without them, you wouldn't have a restaurant to go to. If not, at least respect the people you are with because we are the ones who end up covering for your cheap ass.