The one incident I can recall is where I paid with a credit card but was going to leave the tip in cash. The waitress was extremely rude (this is before we even got up) about me leaving a tip.

Anyway, I did end up leaving some tip with the added bonus of some extra words too 😉

I used to be partners in a British-style pub in Canada so I know a little bit about this. I wouldn’t tip more than 15% unless the person really made your day. I’ve done that before but rarely.

Here’s what I suggest.

15%: Great service
10%: Good service
5%: Grumpy server but decent service
$.01 Server with attitude. (Yes a penny. They’ll get the message.)

Let’s face it, even a bumbling server who means well but is having a bad day deserves something. But don’t reward a belligerent server. You’re just setting up the next patron for a lousy attitude.

And there’s no need getting the manager involved unless the server is really insulting. If they are having a bad day you don’t have to pay for it.