Indiana & Kentucky Foodies, Would You Be More Likely to Eat at a Restaurant that Banned Tipping?
When it comes to dining out, tipping is always a hot topic. Many servers depend on tips to make ends meet, especially in states like Indiana, where hourly wages for servers can be as low as $2 to $3 an hour, making tips crucial.
People’s tipping habits vary widely—some are generous, while others barely tip at all. My wife and I usually tip at least 20%, and for great service, we might go as high as 25%. Many servers believe that customers should always leave a tip, regardless of the service.
However, most diners think tips should reflect the server's performance. Ultimately, tipping should be a private matter between the server and the customer, and restaurants shouldn't interfere.
In Pittsburgh, a restaurant called Bar Marco took a bold step by banning tipping altogether in 2015. Instead, they’re offered their servers a base salary of $35,000 a year, plus medical benefits and 500 shares of stock. On the surface, this sounds great, but what about customers who want to reward exceptional service?
Bar Marco’s goal was to provide a complete employment package without relying on tips. They even did this without raising menu prices—something you don’t hear every day! Initially, sales went up - probably from the media hype. But according to a reddit post, they eventually went back to the tipping model.
Personally, I’d feel a bit strange leaving Bar Marco without leaving a tip, but if the staff is earning a competitive wage, I could get on board with it.
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