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have seen this tip policy in places that cater to a lot of foreign independent travelers
away from home - they just do not understand why we tip.
"arent those folks being paid properly? why dont the employers pay a living wage?" is the question i get from travelers new to the game.
maybe just self defense on the servers part - grin
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A forced tip is common for "parties of 6 or more." 10 - 12% tip is nothing but nasty. Your waitstaff (waiter, waitress, food runner, bus person) are making their living on your tips. It is not you generosity, but more your obligation when you go out to eat. There is a special minimum wage structure for restaurant workers. Whether you like it or not, the custom is that the customer pays for his/her service. 18-20% is the norm. Service would have to be exceptionally bad for most to leave less. Anyone can have a bad day and then maybe 15%. If you have a bad day at work, most still get paid. To stiff a waitperson with 10% or less says more about the tipper than the tipee.
As an aside, if you go to Greece or some other Mediterranean countries and over tip, it is considered a pretty bad insult as you are implying the person needs the noney.
My guess is that Kaleos wouldn't have a mandatory tip if most of their customers have done the right thing.
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Birdmove, I certainly don't doubt your story but something seems a tad off. Why did you pay for the drink at all if it was not what you ordered? The place must have had an owner or manager on site who could have helped you.
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quote:
Originally posted by jackson
...The place must have had an owner or manager on site who could have helped you.
We complained about the service to the owner who did give us a $20 GC to use another time. The waitress yelled at me at Home Depot a few days later about complaining to the owner, and we did in fact leave a 15% tip for service that was horrible. (I wanted to leave the proverbial penny but yes they do get minimum wage. The other waiter acknowledged was horrible and he stepped in to help - ETA: and my husband gave him a tip also.) I then called the mgr/owner to tell her about waitress and Home Depot.
Too many poor or mediocre experiences and we just quit going there.
A note though, if you go often, you seem to get a lot better service, and your food is not luke warm. My friend Julie goes in there all the time (sometimes 2-3's in a week) and absolutely loves it. I have only been in there for lunch or dinner maybe a dozen or two times since they opened.
Like "the why live in Hawaii" threads, every once in awhile when the posts get around to Kaleo's, most people love Kaleo's but it does have it's exceptions, just like everything else.
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quote:
Originally posted by Bullwinkle
have seen this tip policy in places that cater to a lot of foreign independent travelers
away from home - they just do not understand why we tip.
"arent those folks being paid properly? why dont the employers pay a living wage?" is the question i get from travelers new to the game.
maybe just self defense on the servers part - grin
Great post. I've heard them express similar incredulity over the endless, "health care debate", here in Corp USA. Low wage/free traded away America.
Lee Eisenstein
http://members.cruzio.com/~lionel/event
"Be kinder than necessary, as everyone you meet is engaged in some kind of strudel."
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I usually tip 15% and add more if service is great. If it sucks then they get a penny under a glass  Does a mandatory tip mean you have no recourse if the meal and service is bad?
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The 18% tip at Kaleo's is for parties of 6 or more and it is prominently displayed at the Bottom of the menu.
We ate there last night and the food was excellent !!
http://kaleoshawaii.com/sub_men.php
Scroll down to the bottom of this menu.
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Just did a search of tip etiquette. 15 - 25% for a restaurant, but never less than 10%. If you leave a penny under a glass, I would suggest never considering a return visit . Considering the cost of living in Hawaii, I always tip at least 20% but to each his/her own.
Never blame or punish a waitperson for bad or slow to arrive food. If they happen to forget your water, remember no one is perfect. Before leaving a bad tip for poor service, think if you have ever been a bad customer. Everyone is entitled to a bad day. If I am getting nasty service, I try to remember that this person most likely doesn't know me and it is not personal. We are all subject to bad moods. A penny under a glass? No way.
I waited tables for about seven years. I never got a penny left. I thought it was sort of a myth. I guess not. I know that any truly deficient tip was discussed by the whole kitchen staff and what was said would not be pretty, and all regulars who tipped poorly were known.
The "special" minimum wage structure doesn't mean servers get minimum wage. It means that by law the employer is exempted from paying minimum wage to employees who get regular gratuities.
In Arizona, I was paid 20% of minimum wage. When we got our checks, the withholding might exceed the wages. I'm not sure what the "wage" is now, but I am sure the servers still regard their tips are their only real income. If you don't tip, you have asked that person to serve you for free.
OTOH, I expect people working as servers to act like professionals. It's a job where you expect to work hard, and you should never ever take your bad mood to work. Your job is more than physically bringing the F&B and taking it away, but to make the experience as pleasant and smooth as you can in spite of all the variables. Sometimes you get slammed and there is no way to do it all unless you have superpowers, but there's no excuse for poor service if it is slow.
Kaleo's sounds good, but does it please people who aren't big on beef and ribs?
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My experience at Kaleo's has been mixed. After hearing so many people rave about the place on Punaweb and elsewhere, I was rather disappointed on my first visit. I got to sample four dishes from around the table, and one was excellent, two so-so, and one close to inedible due to oversalting. The dish I ordered, the Dynamite Seafood, was the best one, and the people who ordered the other dishes agreed with my opinion of them. On a second visit, the food was somewhat better due to both previous experience and having asked some regulars what was best to order. Service on both occasions seemed rushed as though they were under pressure to turn over tables, but was friendly and thoughtful. The worst part for me was an ambience that approached "hash house." Between the noise from the kitchen, the sound of the entertainment, and the other diners talking loudly to be heard over the first two, it was almost impossible to have a normal conversation both times. I'm not criticizing the entertainment, mind you. It was good for what it was, but too much for the room when mixed with the kitchen noise.
Bottom line:
Once you've figured out what to order, a very good and tasty meal can be had. But if they promote themselves as Pahoa's fine dining option, they need to work on getting a more refined ambience. Yes, I know it's Pahoa, but I won't be back unless I hear that they have done something about the noise and hurry. As always, YMMV.
Edited for typos.
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