maleficent

A bunch of business books have chapters on "tipping etiquette" and the general rule of thumb, though of course it's dependent on the restaurant, but in a better restaurant (ie not chain places, not family style places, not places where you would probably find children) that if the waiter abley assists you with a bottle of wine, then the tip is 10 -15 percent at most on the bottle - and 15 -20 on food. -- Never would you tip 20 percent on the bottle of wine. (restuarant is already marking it up 100 percent)

I've also seen tipping guides that say booze should not be inclulded in the tip, or should be minimally included. (there was one restuarnat, that the waiters had an interesting little scam going- if you waited in the bar for your table... and had a drink.. the waiter would try and have you carry the bill over to the table - so you'd factor in those drinks where they did absolutely nothing - into the tip... Settle up with the bartender and tip him accordingly, before heading to the table.

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