I recently served a table of six visitors from Brazil. They were very worldly and although their English wasn’t the best, they knew the names of all the “hip” cocktails being served at the time. We bent over backwards for this young professional bunch, who seemed to be having a very, very good time. We even comped them a number of beers and a round of premium shots.

They left $0 on a bar tab of $285. I actually confronted them on the way out and asked if there was a gratuity for our servers forthcoming, and perhaps they’d forgotten. Like a bad Spanish stereotype, they all, in unison, shrugged their shoulders, with wide eyes, and blurted “oh, I don’t know.” And then kept walking.

The moment I accused the ringleader, a macho guy who seemed in control of the party, of having “a small dick,” his attitude changed. I thought he was angry and was going to hit me. Instead, I’d shamed him into giving my staff a gratuity. He pulled a $20 from his wallet and gave it to me. To which I said “thank you very much and have a good evening.”

So much of it is all about playing stupid and thinking you’re getting over on one of your fellow human beings — because in this kind of delicate situation, you can.

“Because you can” is also the reason amoral idiots take money that doesn’t belong to them in the split-second someone’s not watching.

I feel your pain. I've been serving in Carmel for over 13 years now. It's a great job, and even without a formal education it has allowed me to buy a home and work only 4 days a week. My philosophy is work to live not live to work. I serve my fair share of tourinsts in Carmel and I have to say you are so right about Brits being cheap, but let's be honest, the Germans & French are usually poor tippers too, not to mension the ever stingy Brazilians!! So, about a year ago I started writing on the bottom of their checks…"Gratuity NOT Included 15%=$/20%=$". This system works for me 99% of the time & I recommend you try it!

I'm Australian, we have a British system when it comes to dining. I don't believe in paying extra just because it is expected and especially when there are people like this posted complaining about the amount left, have some manners and be greatful.

In the UK and Australia people DO tip but only when the service is above and beyond so in other words if you do your job well you will be rewarded.

In the USA, you tip. Elsewhere, you learn the rules and go by them. If you want to visit here (USA) that's the deal. I would love to visit Britain, and I plan to learn/follow whatever etiquette is considered proper.

I once had British friends visit and I took them out to dinner. They were/are lovely people, and we had a very nice time. When I went to pay the bill, I asked them to wait a moment so I could get some change to leave a tip for the waiter (and by "change" I mean change for a $20, and such, not cents ). They got up to leave and I came back to the table to find a waiter looking daggers at us. I immediately left a generous tip (his service was very good) and my guests commented that they had forgotten that that was necessary, as it wasn't done back home.

No damage was done, and I didn't expect them to leave anything – they were my guests, and I was taking care of all the meal expenses. But I'll never forget the look on the poor waiter's face when he thought we were walking out on him. I wanted to die.

As far as Kweh's comments: You must be joking right?? I have many friends from the UK and even they would disagree with your comments about the Brits being known for their etiquette.

To Cat: Having just returned from a month in Auz-Seriously, you must be joking! Servers get paid from $14.50-$25.oo @hr. there. I surveyed them from Melbourne up to Airlie Beach and all points in between. The service sucks in Auz for the most part. Can't tell you how many times I had to get my own utensils, napkins and hunt down the server because there were food issues. They'd look at me as if I was as speaking an alien language, and for the most part, I was. Lazy people. Greedy Americans?? Oh that is rich. More like greedy, pay me for doing nothing Auzzies.

Morris: Like you saying that you're not going to eat out any more is going to halt the restaurant industry in the US. If you want to dream, go to sleep. Oh, sorry…you were talking in your sleep. Just giving you the benefit of the doubt.

I don't think the US citizens need to be aware any more of cultural differences. Why?? Because the rest of the planet knows we are about "PC" and they take advantage of it. I travel extensively-around the US and outside of it. It is about "When in Rome…" Trust me, you don't get any slack outside of the US, even in Canada.

D.G.: You are the one that server's love to write about on waiterrant. com. You better watch out when eating out, as server's are on to your type.