Hey there guys,

I had a question that has really been getting mixed replies, and thus I wanted to see what you guys thought. The range of responses has really run the gamut, so I am going to go where few multimadridians have gone before and attempt to construct an actual, fully-operational, correctly-configured, testing poll...

GULP... wish me luck!

I know the question has been posed before, but it really seems that many people have said mixed things. Here is some of the conflicting info I have heard:

1) Some have stated that it is somewhat demeaning if an American college student, such as myself, would tip (or perhaps OVERLY tip) an older Spanish waiter.

2) Many people contend that it is greatly appreciated.

3) Some say that it is not in the nature of Spaniards to tip at all.

Given this mixed set of opinions, I want to make sure that I don't pull a restaurant faux pas when I get there at the end of the month... My friend, Martha Stewart, would never let me here the end of it!

Thanks guys,
Brian

Hey DizyDevil, I know it is not from you directly but I think that #1 above is ridiculous, especially if it is in an area that is touristy where the waiters are used to getting bigger tips.

As for #s 2 and 3, they are both correct. Tips are always appreciated as they are (or should be) a reward for a job well done. Not to insult any Spaniards but I also agree that it is not in the nature or culture here to tip, especially not on the scale of the tipping in the U.S.A.

The concept of a tip: A tip should be left when the service is good and when you are pleased with the waiter, that is what tippingis all about! Unfortunately, in many places (u.S.A. is the biggest culprit here), the tip has become such an abused concept and I have heard of cases in New York City where it has reached 20%

Equally as nuts a practice is leaving no tip here in Spain which is by far what most Spaniards do

I used to tip 15% back in the States and when I moved here it was hard to get used to leaving less. Don't get me wrong, it is ice on the wallet but hard psychologically since I was a waiter for over 5 years in the U.S.A.

Keep in mind that in the States, the waiters, bartenders, bus people and other restaurant staff that sever the public directly have very low salaries (at least they did when I was last working in that field). I used to get paid $4/hour at a very classy restaurant out on Long Island on the Great South Bay. That was my "on the books" pay but the tips were AMAZING. Here in Spain, the same jobs have their own salary (a normal salary) included and tips therefore DO NOT make or break the livelyhood of the waiter, bartender, etc...

Also important to note that the service at a bar or restaurant here is crap compared to that in the U.S.A. Here the service you get at a restaurant is VERY basic and often times you have to keep after the waiter to bring you things (ie. more water, a plate you ordered but they forgot to bring, etc...). Often times the waiters here are also very rude and act as if it were not their job to wait on you

In the U.S.A. on the other hand the wiaters are EXTREMELY atentive and often so to the point that it bugs you.

These are 2 extremes of the same job and one could argue that it logically follows the good old "cause and effect" theorum. Which is the cause of the other? Is the great service in the States caused by the big tips or vice versa and the same for Spain but the other way around? Basic cause and effect but hard to put a finger on.

I usually still overtip here in Spain even after having lived here for 7 years but I think it is hard for me to get over the 23 years (7 of which I was a waiter and Pizza deliverer) of MEGA TIPPING thta I spent in the U.S.A.

I leave 7-10% wherever I go, unless the service is absolut garbage, then I either leave a few cents or nothing at all. Sometimes it is better to leave a few measly cents than nothing at all to get a message across to the waiter that he needs to be less rude and get with the program.

I say this because often times leaving nothing at all is the norm here (especiall when you eat at the bar at a cafeter�a or just have a drink at a terraza) but leaving a few cents will get the attention of the waiter.

In addition, I would like to add that tipping at a bar (ie. normal bar, disco, night club, etc...) is UNHEARD OF HERE. In the States, if you order a few drinks at a club and the bartender charges you... let's say $7.50, it is totally normal to throw him/her a $10 spot and let him/her keep the change. Here in Spain, a bartender is likely to pass out if you surprise him/her like that

Nuff said.

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. I think this is a really great topic and can't wait to get feedback from others.

As a comment on Jer's comments: back in the early 70's I used to spend a lot of time in Madrid :l: and the service was absolutely great almost everywhere. Sadly something changed and my last two trips (97, 01) it was mostly atrocious. The worst was lunch at a restaurant on the square in Avila last year. It was unbelievably bad. Best service was a tie between Botin's (one meal) and El Bernardino in Segovia which was my family's favorite of all that we tried. We ate there probably 5-6 times. My (now 6 year old) grandaughter still thinks their "trucha a la segoviana" is the world's best restaurant food. (You've never seen a trout picked so clean. ) The service would have been considered good any where I have ever been, and reminded me of what I used to experience in the 70s. BTW, the service upstairs at "La Mallorquina" is pretty good (I know, it's not a real restaurant), and hasn't changed in the intervening 30 years.

I didn't find tipping to be neccessary...most of the time back when pesetas were still used (seems so long ago) my friends and i would not give an exact tip, but rather we would just try to clear our wallets and pockets of the annoying 1 peseta and 5 peseta coins we'd been carrying around.I spent most of my time at one restaurant, if you could call it that...VIPS...because it was near my university and apartment...there I never tipped, you have to practically scream at the waiter/waitress if you want anything. In places like Plaza Mayor at the little cafes and stuff where there are many tourists I think it seems more appropriate to tip, they sort of expect it. But that's just the impression I got.

Hey Ernesto, I have eaten at Bot�n and the Mallorquina's upstairs dining room many a time and I agree with you, the waiter service is very efficient. The waiters at the MALLORQUINA are older (in their 50s) and while they may not be the cheery type, they are good waiters and are attentive

As for the Mallorquina not being a real restaurant, I agree to a certain degree but, aside from the mega yummy sweets, they also serve up basic meals at mid day (most people do not know this).

Hey Lachiquitaloca9, I can't believe you wrote the "V word" on my message board, I have banned people for less

Seriously though, I guess it was convenient for you butI f9ind that the only decent thing at the "V word" is the coke

For anyone from the U.S.A. who does not what vips is, it is like the Spanish Friendly's but with less and worse ice cream.

Saludos,
jer...

VIPS... I tried the one located across the street from BIGGs, the internet cafe in Alcal�. I have to admit that te food was very bland and that's the best you could say!

I went because it was full of Madrile�os. Why would Madrile�os, who have the one of the best cuisines in the world, attend that place?

Yes I know VIPS is a horrible place to eat...but unfortunately, for me at least, it was the most convenient place to get something to eat. Plus it's open later than any other "restaurant" I knew of and it was a good late night studying place after the school's library closed. Some of the food was edible...Ensalada Louisiana...and as for the icecream...the brownies with icecream and chocolate syrup were not that bad... I guess anything tastes good in comparison to my own cooking... but it is a rip off.

Hi Brooke,
What a great observation as a good place to study after the library closes. Perhaps that is why I saw so many young people there. As an academic librarian I am interested in alternate places where students study . I've always felt that Libraries are missing the boat, we should have lounge type furniture and sell coffee, Hot fudge sundays, so on!
Maybe VIPS is the equivalent to Barnes & Noble here.

For some reason inexplicable to me, my old friend Jos� Lozano let his KIDS pick the restaurant we all went out to and it was VIPS! Needless to say, both my daughter and I were crestfallen. This was 'way back in '89. But here is something surreal: while on a mini-vacation in south central Michigan this week, I saw a VIPs sign on a really run down and deserted buidling, possible an abandoned restaurant. Copyright infringement?