Dockside Chat - sushi bar etiquette

this is something that has bothered me for a while...
i always tip 20% or more on a restaurant check, but what about when you eat at a sushi bar?

it usually goes like this...

seated at the bar, a waiter comes over, gets drinks, asks if you want anything from the kitchen, brings it if so, gets more drinks, brings the check

in the meantime, the sushi chef does the heavy lifting, especially if you ask for and get something special/different

anyway, i always wind up leaving the sushi chef a ten or twenty in his tip jar, but then feel like an a-hole if i don't tip 20% on the check for the waiter

what's the etiquette here? does the waiter & sushi chef split the tip on teh check? if so why does the sushi chef have a tip jar?

Technically the chef is the server as well.

The waitress fill your drink, maybe bring you a bowl of soup.

If its unreal awesome, I give a little extra to the chef and the rest to the server still trying not to exceed the 18-22% range

http://littletokyosushi.com/

I ran into that same issue at above place.

I solved this by sitting at a table instead of the bar and splitting the tip between the waiter and chef jar.
BTW this place rocks, great fresh fish.

Technically the chef is the server as well.



so the chef & the waiter split the tip on the check?

real good question. have had this happen in different places.

If the sushi chef take my order and hands me the food I will give him about 20% on the food - even if there is no tip jar. Have never had one refuse. Will still give the chef something but less the more the waiter does.

20% on an iced tea isn't much so the 20% rule doesn't apply at lunch for the waiter. if there are 2 of us and it is dinner with drinks then the waiter gets closer to 20% on the drinks.

Do they share tips???

so the chef & the waiter split the tip on the check?

Ya know, I never knew that, so thats why I always did sort of a balance.

Honestly, I think i'd have to have a Geisha girl feed me as well before I'd end up giving 1/3 % extra on the bill. Or at least the extra special golden lotus massage :grin:

"Or at least the extra special golden lotus massage :grin:"

I think I ate that one time.

I split it between the two; tip is $20; $10 in the jar and $10 with the bill.

Depends on the restaurant but a lot of these places will pool the tips and devide.


Its all taken care of on the back end.

Have a couple of friends that own sushi bars. The waiter and chef shares tips. If the sushi was especially good, I will put a little extra in the chefs' tip jar.

Or just go to Sonny's for some real food...

I don't tip so I never find myself in the quandary you described.

I don't tip so I never find myself in the quandary you described.



Awesome, I bet servers love you.

I don't tip so I never find myself in the quandary you described.


Ever eat at same place twice? I wouldn't if I were you :grin:

Awesome, I bet servers love you.

My FIL would always insists on picking up the tab for our dinners out.
We'd have a family gathering of like 8-10 people.

He'd leave $3-5!!!!

I'd always say "Oh shoot I forgot something" when we headed out the door so I could go back and give the chic the correct amount.
He would actually linger at the table until everyone walked out, that's why I had to wait til we got to the door.

Cheapskate

Was he Canadian? A friend owned a pizza place on the beach in Hollywood, FL- he said the waitresses would run from Canucks and their measly tips....

My FIL would always insists on picking up the tab for our dinners out.
We'd have a family gathering of like 8-10 people.

He'd leave like $3-5!!!!

I'd always say "Oh shoot I forgot something when we headed out the door so I could go back and give the chic the correct amount"
He would actually linger at the table until everyone walked out, that why I had to wait til we go to the door.

Cheapskate

whenever a family member or who ever picks up the tab for a group I always insist on leaving the tip, I don't expect anyone to pay for my or my wifes meal plus daughter inlaw is a server so we hear alot about cheapskates

whenever a family member or who ever picks up the tab for a group I always insist on leaving the tip, I don't expect anyone to pay for my or my wifes meal plus daughter inlaw is a server so we hear alot about cheapskates

Oh NO! He would never take a dime. He even gave me words one time when I tried to leave the tip!

Was he Canadian? ..
Georgian...from the plantation

My FIL would always insists on picking up the tab for our dinners out.
We'd have a family gathering of like 8-10 people.

He'd leave $3-5!!!!

I'd always say "Oh shoot I forgot something" when we headed out the door so I could go back and give the chic the correct amount.
He would actually linger at the table until everyone walked out, that's why I had to wait til we got to the door.

Cheapskate

That's pathetic.