Leaving a tip may not be optional

December 10 2009 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Canada, #eating out, #experience, #Italian, #meal, #metro, #Montreal, #Ola Fagbohun, #ondo lady, #pennsylvania, #Recommendations & Rants (tips, links and reviews), #restaurant, #service, #service charge, #tips, #travel, #USA

One evening in Montreal, my travel partner Ronke and I, starving, had a dinner to forget at Mike's, an Italian restaurant chain.

We were seated immediately only to wait about 30 minutes for a waiter to bring us drinks and take our order. And that's only because we made a fuss as we were starving and too tired to go elsewhere.

We waited, waited and waited for our drinks, then meals, and finally the bill. Our waiter made no attempt to apologize for the delayed service, in fact he made a bad situation even worst delivered by with his bad attitude. His attitude said, 'you should be grateful I am here to serve you'.

Although the service was memorable, the meal was not, so much so that I have forgotten what we had. Not surprisingly at the end of this horrid experience, we didn't leave a tip.

On seeing out lack of tip, for the first time that night, our waiter sprang into life. As we were leaving he frantically called Ronke back, as I was already out of the door. He had the affront to ask her if we had forgotten to leave a tip. Shocked, Ronke said No. She told him that our service had been terrible and since the service charge is optional we decided not to pay.

Wondering what was taking Ronke so long, I was about to walk back into the restaurant. But there was no need as she came out shaking her head. She told me what the waiter had asked, in fact he tried to bully her into leaving a tip. I was ready to go back in and give him a piece of my mind, but Ronke advisedly pulled me away.

Now, I mention this incident, because of a story I read two weeks ago in the Metro. It was about a couple in Pennsylvania, USA, who didn't want to leave a tip after waiting for an hour for their meal.

However, unlike Ronke and I, who walked away, the couple were handcuffed and charged with theft. It seems the manager, took offence, as he / she thought the service charge should be paid, and called the police. Incredulously the pair will be in court next month.

Even as I write this, I am in shock at their situation. When did it become compulsory to reward bad service. Who knows the next time I refuse to pay for lack of service, I might find myself writing an update to this post from jail.

Be warned - the customer is not always right!

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