I know the service culture here in Australia doesn't exactly revolve around tipping all that much. We don't do it as a rule. It happens sometimes, after a meal in a restaurant, maybe we tip the cabbie - having done that shitty job for a year I urge you all, tip the sorry bastard who's driving you around, even if he doesn't speak English. You probably don't see it, but he deserves it and needs it!
If you're at a restaurant and you really enjoyed the food send a few beers into the kitchen - having done that job for 18 years I can tell you that it is extremely appreciated, do it at a regular haunt of yours and the chef will remember you, no request will be a problem in the future. You're the dude that left him a beer, in his world you rock! You want a prawn cocktail on a Saturday night, even though this is a 5 star restaurant "yes sir, it'll just be a few minutes as I would like to steam them fresh for you", hey you're the dude who left the chef a beer, you rule.
The same goes if you've enjoyed the service, leave a nice tip and next time you walk in at 10.15pm hoping the kitchen is still open the waiter you tipped is gonna put on his best pleading face when he explains to the chef that some VIPs just walked in. If you also happened to send a few beers into the kitchen last time, well, sit back and watch as the chef drags all the apprentices back from the locker room to do 1 more table :o)
You see tipping is a two way street in Australia, give and ye shall receive. In the USA it's a different story, tipping over there is pretty much expected. Waiters survive off of their tips, minimum wage over there is like $5.00/hour, so tips are kinda relied upon. I had issues tipping over there if the service and food was crap. But for an easy to understand guide on tipping in New York, I'll leave it to the waiter from waiter blog to explain it all to you in 22 easy and pretty funny steps.
Note: If you ever have the misfortune to eat at a Sizzler restaurant, make sure you don't get into an argument with the waiters there, or this may be the end result!!
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