You can blame the weak dollar along with the rest of the economy for the shrinking tips at the popular tourist hangout, Ray’s Boathouse. While a few locals may not be tipping as much as before, waiters are getting stiffed by European and Japanese tourists who aren’t accustomed to leaving a tip, reports the Seattle Times. So Ray’s is printing up tipping reminders in a variety of languages to present to customers along with their check. (Photo from Rays.com)
My Ballard
A news blog for Seattle's Ballard neighborhood and beyond
Shrinking tips at Ray’s Boathouse
June 29th, 2008 · 16 Comments
Tags: Ballard
16 responses so far ↓
1 Suthii // Jun 29, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Japan is a funny place, been there many times. They have this bizarre idea that you can get good service in a restaurant without any tipping. Amazing! France on the other hand, you get bad service and you don’t need to tip more than a €uro or 2.
But in the US, get bad service and skimp on the tip and next time you’re back, better not order the Clam Chowder! And what’s with the tip jar in coffee shops where you’re not getting table service? Are they serious?
2 Nina // Jun 29, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I’d probably go there more if they stopped the annoying Asian inspired northwest seafood stuff.
Maybe if the Asian tourists are stiffing them on tips, they could focus more of the menu on local type food.
3 Locks Fan // Jun 29, 2008 at 6:51 pm
At least in Seattle, minimum wage for servers is pretty decent compared to a lot of this country. So even though it’s unpleasant not to get tipped, it’s worse in other cities.
4 Suthii // Jun 29, 2008 at 7:21 pm
“Maybe if the Asian tourists are stiffing them on tips, they could focus more of the menu on local type food.”
They’re not ’stiffing’ them, they simply don’t realize in the US you’re supposed to tip, even the 90% of the time you get bad service in the US.
And why should they stop trying Asian style cooking to punish Asians? That’s not very welcoming or tasty.
5 Duncan // Jun 29, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I wonder if the troll has ever been to Ray’s?
6 Suthii // Jun 29, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I go 3-4 times a year, usually with out of town guests or to take visiting family. Was just there 2 weeks ago, had some crab legs, enjoyed a couple of bottles of a Cakebread white and left my usual 20% tip when I get good service. What’s your point?
7 gooner // Jun 29, 2008 at 9:07 pm
even as a former waiter, the idea of tipping 15-20% standard is pretty silly… i agree with you suthii that it is stupid… but at the same time if the waiters weren’t getting tips, then they wouldn’t want to work in that profession, so the restaurants would have to raise their prices to give the waiters better wages….
so either the food is cheaper with the expected tip, or the food is more expensive with the waiters getting better wages… doesn’t really matter, you end up paying same for the meal.
8 M // Jun 30, 2008 at 5:10 am
Had lunch at Ray’s on Saturday - usually go a couple of times a year. As a local I knew it was going to be jam-packed but since I don’t care about an outside table we were seated quickly.
Good service = good tip… I saw the lovely little missive about the quaint American custom of tipping (in multiple languages) and chuckled a bit. I quickly figured out the backstory.
I do tip well - maybe its my way of thanking the gods that I’ve never worked as waitstaff.
9 Joel // Jun 30, 2008 at 10:32 am
Geez, don’t you visit another country knowing this kind of stuff? I mean, is it really necessary that they have to print this on the menu?? This seems like a custom even the most lunk headed international visitor should understand. If I, as a US citizen made the same assumptions, I’d probably be called an arrogant American.
10 Rudy // Jun 30, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Completely agree Joel.
11 Nina // Jun 30, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I am tired of Asian food. :)
12 silver // Jul 1, 2008 at 6:36 am
Locks Fan said:
“At least in Seattle, minimum wage for servers is pretty decent compared to a lot of this country.”
Unfortunately, Seattle living expenses are also higher that a lot of this country.
I tip 20% because long ago I worked as a bellhop at a hotel, and I remember how nice it felt when people showed their appreciation.
Oh, and because, like M, I wouldn’t want to earn my living as a food service employee!
13 Lynn // Jul 1, 2008 at 8:51 am
Ah, the angst of tipping. Always good script material for “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
14 Brian // Jul 2, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Thank goodness the tips are dropping. I still drop by once a year, but haven’t had a good meal or impressive service there since I was a kid (and I was probably too stupid to know the difference back then). Maybe we’ll all get lucky; Ray’s will finally go out of business and Gordo’s can re-open across the street from the old shop.
15 sara // Jul 9, 2008 at 11:10 am
I think that is BS. Why is it ok to discriminate if you are a foreigner? I was there the other day and there wasn’t a “reminder” in my check presenter…just ‘cuz I am from here? I think it makes an assumption. I have been stiffed by many a folk from right here in the good ‘ol USA.
My experience of late at Ray’s has been crappy service, ok food and nothing more.
16 Daphne Gilbertson // Jul 24, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I find this very crass the Ray’s is printing a statement about tipping on the menu…..
I find this demanding. If the restaurants paid the servers well - there would not be this problem of tipping. I find service, class, and waiters/waitresses who know the food in Europe.
It is a profession to them. In America is it only a job - where waiters try to get big tips out of people.
Leave a Comment