How To Properly Tip Your Server When You're Squaring Up A Discounted Meal
The subject of tipping — and etiquette in general — has reentered the chat in a big way. In February 2023, New York Magazine published a veritable tome on how to behave in a post-pandemic, post-Emily Post world. "The ways we socialize and date, commute, and work are nearly unrecognizable from what they were three years ago," it reads.
The guide covers the dos and don'ts of being a good friend, dating, hosting a dinner party, walking around a city, texting, taking a Slack call, and more. Thankfully for everyone who wants to know but is too afraid to ask, it also includes a breakdown of how to tip at restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses whose Square screens now come with tipping prompts. And yes, your service-industry friends are telling the truth: In 2023, a 15% tip is far too small.
What the guide doesn't include is how to tip when you're squaring up for a discounted meal. Don't worry — it's simpler than you think.
A discounted meal doesn't mean a discounted tip
Everyone loves a food-related discount, whether it comes courtesy of a rewards-based coupon, a gift card, a buy-one-get-one-free deal, or a benevolent server who throws in a free round of drinks and appetizers. But when it comes time to pay your bill at the end of that cheaper-than-usual meal, make sure you're not discounting the tip. For example, if your dinner would have set you back $35 without the discount, you should tip your server at least 20% of that original amount.
And remember: tipping a minimum of 20% is standard practice whether or not you're a fan of your server. At many restaurants and eateries, tips are pooled among the staff, meaning the 20% tip on your bill is split among everyone you see — and some you don't — on the floor. Punishing one salty staffer with a bad tip isn't fair to their co-workers. If ever you feel inclined to stiff your server, consider the friendly host who saw you to your table.