How much tip do you leave in NYC?

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NYC Tip Guide: Average service: 15% Good service/upscale dining: 20% Customary range is 15-20% of the pre-tax bill. Consider exceeding this for exceptional service.
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How much tip is customary in NYC?

Ugh, NYC tipping, right? It's a minefield. Last month, July 12th, I grabbed a slice at that little place near my apartment, Joe's Pizza on Carmine Street. No tip needed, it's counter service.

Different story at that fancy Italian spot in the West Village – $150 dinner, I tossed down a $30 tip. Felt right, excellent service. Twenty percent, standard high-end.

For average service? Fifteen percent feels about right. Think that diner on 8th Avenue I hit up last week, good coffee, average eggs. Left a few bucks extra; around fifteen percent.

So, yeah, 15-20%, that’s the range. High-end, bump it up. Average service? Stick closer to fifteen. Simple.

Is it rude not to tip in New York?

Tipping's a game. Rules? None. Mood swings dictate.

Obligation? A myth. I once walked out on a $200 bill, zero tip. Felt good.

  • Legality: Untraceable, therefore nonexistent.
  • Morality: A personal failing, or not.

NYC Expectation? Entitlement's a virus.

10%? A statement. A subtle "you could've done better," maybe? I gave 5% last Tuesday. Regret? Still pondering.

What happens when you don’t tip? Nothing. The world moves on. My waiter frowned.

  • Consequences: Transient, inconsequential.
  • Justice: Exists only in fiction.

Servers rely on tips? So? I rely on oxygen.

  • Restaurants use of tipping is a system. A weird system.
  • Tip is just money. Not love. Or respect.

Generosity's fickle. Like love. Like the stock market. So what? I bought new headphones instead.

What tips do you give in New York?

Ugh, tipping in NYC. It's a total minefield. Seriously, I hate it. My last trip, the hotel already added a "service charge" – what's the point of then tipping? Is it extra for good service? Ridiculous!

  • Restaurants: 18-20% is standard, more if the service was amazing. Less if it was truly awful, but I'm stingy, so that almost never happens. I once tipped 25% at that Italian place on Bleecker Street. Best pasta ever.
  • Bars: A dollar or two per drink is fine. Unless it's a fancy cocktail bar, then maybe more. I don't drink much.
  • Taxis/Ride-shares: Round up. Or tip 15-20%, depending on the ride. I always use Uber these days. Way easier than those yellow cabs, I find.

Hotel service is weird. They added that charge, right? So I tipped extra for the bellhop. He was carrying my stupid heavy suitcase. Ten bucks. Worth it. He deserves more than what was already charged. The maid? I left a few extra dollars. Five, maybe. Felt cheap, but I'm broke. Need to save for my next trip. Probably LA.

Food delivery apps? I usually tip around 20%, sometimes more if the order is late or complicated. Pizza from Joe's Pizza is my go-to when I'm too lazy to cook. Best slice.

Thinking about it makes me stressed. The whole tipping thing is just confusing. Everyone expects something extra it feels like. Why can't wages be better? People shouldn't rely on tips. It should be factored in legally. I'm rambling.