I have done it. While I admit it can be kind of wierd I have never been turned down when offering up $10 or $20. For places that don't take reservations or are especially 'in the now' it can be a good way to get a table. I try to make a reservation but when I can't, I pay them off. I am a pretty typical american that way... I throw money at problems.

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No, but I've ALWAYS wanted to.

Especially at some crappy "casual dining" restaurant where the wait is inexplicably long in relation to the food and the hostess could probably care less about things.

I mean don't you think some 19 year old kid would be thrilled to sneak an extra $10-$20 on any given night?

That ridiculous 45 minute wait at the Olive Garden could instantly turn into a 5 minute one.

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I can't belive this is accualy true, and while I belive it for a teen, do older hostesses or those that own the resterent work the same way?

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If you are thinking about tipping the hostess to get a seat faster at Olive Garden then you should not be there. Don't waste your money in such a crap restaurant - find a real Italian restaurant.

Tipping the hostess at a "nice" restaurant to get a better seat (or just to be seated quicker) is normal.
Ever think about tipping the door guy at a club so that you do not need to waste time in line? It all works out the same way = to your benefit.

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It works with cork fees as well. If you have a big party and the restaurant does not have a sommelier, "talk" to the waiter and let him know you will be opening a few bottles. Tip him the normal amount (not including the $20).

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I'm not sure if I'd tip someone to get in faster. However, if someone ahead of me handed the hostess money and I could see it, I'd probably open my big fat mouth.

"Hey, so what, if you pay extra you get better service? Why not go to a better restaurant and not mess up the wait for the rest of us, huh? Spend that twenty dollars on food or wait your ten minutes."

I don't really like the idea of tipping in the first place. It just seems odd.. I'm already paying you to do stuff for me, why do I have to pay you more to show that I really liked it, or as an incentive for you to perform your job well in the future? Why is that my responsibility, and not your employer's?

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Not often, but once I was at a huge wedding with the bride's co-workers and we were seated in the stratosphere while her father's wealthy goombah friends were down in front gobbling steak. My wife has hypoglycemia and was feeling faint; she was minutes away from a serious headache and nausea. Upon being told that it would be at least a 45 minute wait, I presented the champaigne pourers and appetizer servers with $5 each.

Within two minutes the minimum wage slaves crowded around our table vying courteously to smother us with service: we got the "good" hors de 'ourves (shrimp and asparagus en croute, fresh baked flatbread with creamed fennel, clams casino, etc.) while nearby other tables got meatballs, crackers, and tiny pizza squares. We got lobster bisque, they got minestrone. When dinner came, ours was beef wellington, theirs was chicken. I forget what dessert was. We were stuffed with the finest viands available and given all we could drink for less than ten dollars per person at a 'free' feed. The servers (not waiters) took home an hour or two's extra cash, and all were happy.

All I really wanted was something for my wife to eat right away.

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I've never done it, but I have been tempted before. I'm afraid I'm not smooth enough to be discreet about it, and would probably end up embarrassing myself and the host or hostess.

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I'm already paying you to do stuff for me, why do I have to pay you more to show that I really liked it, or as an incentive for you to perform your job well in the future?

Except, of course, usually you aren't. You are paying for the food and the prep. Unless you consider two bucks an hour a resonable wage.

Don't know if it's true in the top tier of restaurants, and probably not at the bottom, but it is in the large majority of the places that most Americans go.

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I agree with poster Oneiros Dreaming on this one. Wait staff are paid peanuts, if not less. When you want good service, as with anything, you have to pay for it.

For example, and this might be a bit if a bad one as it was 10 years ago, and in high school. Ok, I worked at a Gloria Jeans coffee shop for 5.25 a hour. The people who worked next door made 2.18 an hour plus tips. I guess that's the point, these people are paid more than minimum wage just to do the basic job of taking your order, to bump themselves up to the bare minimum, they have to work their tushies off.

Personally, I wouldn't take that job to begin with. Second, if I did, I would be crestfallen if I worked hard and received no tip. Might mean the difference between eating and paying rent for some.

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I guess my complaint isn't that I don't want to tip waitstaff NOW. I do, and I usually tip very well if it's deserved.

My complaint is, I don't understand why it has to be like this in the first place.

My personal way of thinking is, if you want to get something done right, do it yourself. It's not, if you want to get something done right, slip someone a 20.

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