Anything goes here, any subject, serious, funny, stupid, whatever...what's on your mind?...let' just chat.

Ok, have you ever ordered something at a restaurant and by the time the food got there you werent hungry any more?

Not me, I'm usually more hungry and quite a bit more perturbed. Have even just got up and walked out because they took so long.

Been there done that.

Did you leave a tip? I did....but I know they won't do it.

Even when the service is bad, I leave a decent tip. That's their job, & tho alot of service has gome downhill lately, what if they've got kids at home ? Sometimes, there might be other reasons behind it that we know nothing about, so I always give a waiter or waitress the benefit of the doubt.

What galls me is that these restaurants make big bucks and won't pay these people diddly, they expect us to pack that weight on top of their big tab meals.

I'm so glad we don't need to tip people over here. IMO if you employ someone, you should pay them.

I do likewise ... tip the usual 10 - 15%, regardless of service.

It would have to be very, very poor for me not to do so. Something along the lines that might suggest that they, the servers, look for another line of work. Rudeness, obnoxious behaviour, complete inattentiveness.

The other day, I saw a breakdown on the costs associated with running a restaurant. Bit of an eye-opener. The program was on the Food Network and hosted by the 'Chef at Large.' Fast forwarding ... the 'net' is quite surprising once you take away the costs. Very surprising I'd say, and goes along way in explaining the upstarts and percentage of failures in that industry.

They really are close to the 'bone' on the aspect of profits. And the numbers presented were reasonable.

And I have had a few dining experiences where the server was the star and not necessarily the food.

Any guys here recall their highschool graduations? What? I am supposed to smell and taste the wine? Ok, thanks. Some suggestions? Yes, I would appreciate that ... and the kicker? Forgive me and the server here, he leaned over and asked if she was appropriately 'happy' enough, and then filled her glass of wine.

And for that ... I was and am willing to pay.

Generally speaking if the service was complete crap, I'll still leave a buck or two...like lauren said, could be many things going on...it would have to be downright horrible for me to not leave something, and if that is the case, I'll tell the server exactly WHY they aren't getting anything. Ok, so maybe I am harsh, but I think they need to know. Who knows how many times they may get "stiffed" on a tip, and are clueless and would rather think the customer is a tightwad prick. I have been know to leave tips larger than my bill if service was amazing. And I always tip my sushi chefs!

Sushi chefs? They cook?