Posted by Bill, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Nov 14, 2009 at 9:56 am

Depends on the type of restaurant.

Posted by newcomer, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Nov 14, 2009 at 10:05 am

@Bill - why? Which types do you tip at? The high end ones, where the staff probably makes more money anyway? Or the fast food places, where the servers probably really need the money?

For the record, the place that asked for a tip was a higher end place. The cheap places usually have a tip jar out, but would never ask.

Posted by Darwin, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 14, 2009 at 10:09 am

A lot of times the employee at the takeout counter is a server who drew the counter shift that night. Which means they're losing a little bit from tips that they would have received if they were running a section at a restaraunt.

I usually throw in a dollar or two depending on my total. Maybe a dollar if it is just me. 2 dollars if it's a big order.

Posted by archives, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 14, 2009 at 11:22 am

Here's an old thread on the subject

Web Link

Posted by Phil, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Jan 8, 2010 at 5:39 pm

Remember the tip goes into a pool shared by all the employees. A tip is supposed to rewared good service. What service does the order taker provide to warrant a tip ?

Posted by foodie, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 19, 2010 at 1:24 pm

I made the mistake of adding a tip to a takeout order at a local place that does a lot of takeout orders. This after reading the previous thread on this subject.

The order was sitting there bagged on the back counter where I could see it. The waitress spent an inordinate amount of time in full view fiddling with it (I can't remember exactly, but something like putting several napkins in one at a time and opening and closing the bag after each.) I was in a hurry, and she deliberately took extra time in full view. It was too late to take the tip back. I still don't understand her attitude -- we weren't rude or difficult, and she wasn't even the one who took the order -- but I'm not going to tip for takeout anymore, unless there is a compelling reason.

Posted by VoxPop, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 19, 2010 at 4:11 pm

If the takeout business is added into the total reported revenue of the restaurant, all the staff has to pay taxes on a certain share of the IRS calculated tips whether they have any tip income or not. If you don't tip for takeout, you take money out of the pockets of people who are probably making minimum wage or not much more to begin with, even at higher end restaurants.

Posted by are you serious?, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on May 14, 2010 at 4:26 pm

Tip is defined as:

a small present of money given directly to someone for performing a service or menial task; gratuity: He gave the waiter a dollar as a tip.

For take outs, what exactly was their service???? donate your money if you are so inclined to spend it!