>>I cannot get used to tipping the waiter for just an average meal. I had to be told that it is expected to tip at least 10% in the US. Up here, you just pay what is on the bill. And if you like, a couple of euros extra. But tipping over 10% is regarded very generous over here.
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>>That's what is what like when we were living in England 13 years ago. Didn't know it was still the same. Over here, bartenders expect at least a 15% tip. When we were living in England, it was unheard of to tip the bartender. If he/she gave great service, one might offer to buy him/her a drink.
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>>It must have been a long time ago that you were in the US - it seems to me that most of the wait staff now expect at least 20%...
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>In fact it was last november (Boston) but to be fair, I'm not usually the one who ends up paying the bill :) As for tipping bart tenders... I've Always payed what they asked me to pay and not a cent more than that. It never occurred to me that you need to tip the bartender.
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You sure do.

I'm not sure how the tipping rate went from 15 to 20%. The best man in my wedding is the restaurant critic for the Chicago Tribune. (And the envy of everyone on the staff, although I think I would have been bored with it years ago). He said I don't know but that's what is expected now. Of course it's easy to be a big tipper when you're spending OPM (other people's money). He doesn't think anything of dropping $200 on dinner for two. You won't find him eating often at Chili's or a local Chinese place. (The Chinese place is reserved for the #2 critic, who is Chinese-American. He's the one waiting for me to die, Phil says).