Restaurateurs, customers weigh in on tipping

When talking about tipping, attitudes range from "service with a smile" to "show me the money."

Here are some of the questions and gripes that I've heard from talking with servers, customers and restaurateurs:

 Some customers say tipping has gotten out of control. The national average restaurant tip is 19.1 percent of the bill, according to the Zagat Guide, which surveys restaurants and dining trends.

Zagat says that Salt Lake City's average tip is also 19.1 percent, which may come as a surprise to servers in Utah. Etiquette guides say a 15 percent to 20 percent tip is the norm for a full-service restaurant. Yesteryear's standard 10 percent now denotes a cheapskate or poor service.

 Customers may think a tip is icing on the cake; for servers, it's their bread and butter. In Utah, servers make $2.13 per hour and rely on tips for the majority of their income.

 The $5 or $10 you leave may seem like a lot; but it's usually shared with the table busers, bar service and other help.

"It is pretty much industry standard for servers to participate in tip share," said Angel Manfredini, whose family owns the Mandarin in Bountiful. "At the Mandarin, the servers 'tip out' to the food runner, server assistants and buser."

What about pizza delivery?It may seem that a tip isn't necessary if the pizza company tacks on a delivery fee. But the Domino's Web site states, "Any delivery charge is not a tip paid to your driver. Please reward your driver for awesomeness."

Brian Williams, who has been a driver with Domino's in Kaysville for three years, said the company recently dropped its pay for drivers from $7.50 per hour to $5.50 for employees of less than one year; the pay goes up with years of service.

He also receives 90 cents per run, which barely covers his gas costs. Drivers also provide their own vehicle, car maintenance and insurance.

But Williams isn't complaining. "On a good Saturday night, I can take home over $100 in tips. And Domino's is an amazing company to work for."

 It may seem unnecessary to tip on a takeout meal that you pick up at the restaurant. However, some servers say they spend some time packing your order in containers and so on. Etiquette "experts" are divided on this one. Some say it's not necessary, others say you could tip $1 to $2 or up to 10 percent.