I appreciate your detailed response, I liked your &quot;tip based on what you drink socially&quot; guide, never heard that one before in all of my googling.<p>However, I think that shows exactly why people hate tipping and would rather just pay a higher fixed cost.  Not to mention the whole subjectivity of &quot;quality&quot; from the tippers POV.  What you may call a crappy waiter another person may call average.<p>Finally.. one point my grandpa made to me that has stuck with me<p>&gt; 15% for table service. It already scales perfectly well with the menu prices.<p>He would always take me out to breakfast. He told me he tips breakfast waiters what a typical dinner tip size would be.  &quot;Just because we are eating pancakes doesn&#x27;t mean the waiter is working any less&quot;.  I&#x27;m sure there is some whole &quot;work your way up&quot; in the restaurant biz but my anecdotal experience has been older women serving breakfast and young men &amp; women at dinners.  Guessing it has to do with being home for kids after school.