Answer by: Eric V. Orange
Personally, I think that the tip is for the full bill, like it or not.
I have seen a situation where a person left the table and bought a high-end wine from the bartender and took it back to the table, to avoid the exact scenario you describe.
It seems to me that raising the issue at all with the establishment would to cheapen the whole experience and probably be THE thing most remembered by “the girls” on that particular night.
I am interested in hearing comments on the subject and will run your question and these comments next week to see what others think.
EVO
About the Expert:Thanks.
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Answer by: Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
I do believe there is only one answer to this question: you should absolutely tip on the full value of food and beverage. In your example of a bottle of Champagne and a salad amounting to a total of $130, you should tip from 15% to 20% for good to excellent service or from about $20 to $26 (by US standards, as the percentage might be different in other cultures). Whether you include tax in the base amount is more variable, and I think prevailing etiquette allows for tax to be excluded.
The important issue, as I see it, is how you should treat service staff in a restaurant. Since they depend upon tips for a major share of their compensation, it is unfair to deny them a tip on wine given that beverages are a normal part of the dining experience. On the other hand, if you receive poor or unattentive service, then by all means the tip percentage should be reduced.
About the Expert:Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade, and he last served as a senior executive with a major national importer. In 2006, he launched Millesima USA, a retail entity affiliated with Europe's leading fine wine mail order company. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993, and he has been very active as an educator and speaker at wine festivals and conferences. He hosts a community television program entitled "Wine's Simple Pleasures," and is currently working on a book of original recipes and wine pairing solutions. Visit Roger C. Bohmrich, MW's website: MILLESIMA USA LLC
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