Tipping in Ireland is a bit of a minefield, and I’ve never quite got a handle on the tipping culture here. I know in the US you’re expected to leave 20%, but servers’ wages are so much lower over there. I usually go for around 15-20% in Ireland, unless the service stinks. I still have many questions, and would love to hear from customers and waitstaff alike:
- What’s the correct percentage for good service, in your view?
- How should you tip if one server is pleasant but another is rude, as happened to us in SoHo before Christmas?
- Do many Irish restaurants still keep their tips and service charges rather than passing them on to staff?
Our reader Sarah got in touch with us to tell us a story of a cheeky tip incident in a Dublin bar/restaurant:
About six months ago a couple of friends had some food and wine in a central Dublin bar. After paying for the bill we waited around 15 minutes but didn’t get our €12 change back. I went up to the bar and was told that the waitress presumed it was a tip. €12! The total bill was only €30 something! I was disgusted and wrote an email of complaint the following day, but never heard anything back. I’d be interested to hear your views on tipping.
Do you have any tipping scandals to share with us?