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Many restaurants offer the option to order and pick up food to-go, allowing customers to enjoy a meal without sitting down in the establishment. And, while tipping is pretty well understood in most instances, how much to tip and even whether to tip at all on a takeout order is up for some debate.
Luckily, I have over 10 years of experience working in the restaurant industry and can weigh in on this topic with comfortable authority. Determining the amount to tip on a takeout order is much different than figuring out how much to tip for regular table service. The same general rule of thumb doesn't really apply when it comes to carrying your food out. In my experience, the overarching answer to whether tipping on takeout orders is necessary is that, no, it's not. More often than not, the staff won't be too hung up on you skipping the tip here. One hospitality worker confirmed this in a Reddit post, sharing that, "...in no way do I expect a tip on an order where the customer did 99% of the leg work and the host is, presumably, getting paid a fair wage." Unless you see the restaurant workers really go the extra mile to get your takeout order ready, most will agree that not tipping is perfectly fine. However, it is still the best way to show appreciation to restaurant staff. If you are picking up food from a place you frequent often or ordering a large amount, a tip is a kind and much-appreciated gesture.
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How to know if your takeout order deserves a tip or not
So, how much should you be tipping on takeout orders? Well, it depends, but there are a few things that are certain. When it comes to takeout, don't worry about calculating a percentage of your total to determine the tip. Instead, consider other factors such as the quantity of food you ordered, any special requests you made (e.g., extra sides or sauces), if you ordered online or with an employee, and whether the restaurant is adequately equipped for takeout orders. For example, when I worked at a pizza restaurant, takeout orders were par for the course. We had all the supplies on hand and even had a designated register just for pickups. A dollar or two tip on each order was more than satisfactory. However, at some restaurants, takeout orders can be more taxing on the staff and the business as a whole, so a larger tip is appreciated in these cases.
All in all, if you're being a pleasant customer in the takeout line, then you shouldn't be too worried about tipping. A foodservice worker left a comment on Facebook supporting this, saying, "Tips for takeout are entirely optional, based on personal comfort, budget, and how well you feel taken care of." There were plenty of times in my experience where a genuine smile and good manners from a customer were as good as gold.
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Read the original article on Tasting Table.
