Patrick Carter

Patrick Carter Welcome to my page.

What's wrong with this bill?
08/18/2026

What's wrong with this bill?

tipping isn’t just about the bill—it’s about supporting the people who serve you. ❤️🍽️
08/17/2026

tipping isn’t just about the bill—it’s about supporting the people who serve you. ❤️🍽️

Now my kids can’t eat…
08/17/2026

Now my kids can’t eat…

Can we have an honest chat about tipping in America? I’ve attached the receipt because I genuinely want to know what you...
08/17/2026

Can we have an honest chat about tipping in America? I’ve attached the receipt because I genuinely want to know what you’d have done.
The bill came to $74.77 at Red Lobster. The service wasn’t terrible… but it certainly wasn’t memorable.
Our server looked like we’d interrupted their evening by turning up. My empty drink sat there so long I was considering giving it a name. It got walked past four times without being refilled. Nobody came over to ask if the food was OK.
Then the steaks arrived… One was ordered medium rare and looked like it had been introduced to the grill.
The other was ordered medium and had the consistency of an old rubber boot.
Now, here’s where my little British brain completely gave up…
The suggested tips were:
18% = $16.59
20% = $18.43
22% = $20.28
So naturally, because I’m the sort of person who checks these things…
I got the calculator out. Twenty percent of $74.77 is actually $14.95, not $18.43.
Apparently the receipt calculates the suggested tip on the total before any discounts, not on what you actually pay.
Now, I completely understand that’s how some restaurants do it, but as a visitor it feels a bit misleading. You glance at the receipt, see “20%” and naturally assume it’s 20% of the bill in front of you.
Then again… maybe I’ve missed the annual American Tipping Conference where everyone agreed 20% is now the starting point!
So, over to you… What would you have tipped?
Nothing?
10%?
15%?
20%?
More?
Tip on the figure before any discount or after?
And what do you make of the suggested tip being worked out on an amount higher than the actual bill? Is that completely normal in the US, or does it catch Americans out as well?
Genuinely interested, because tipping is one of the few things about America that still completely alien to a lot of British people !
If you’ve commented, give me a follow! Kev’s Guide To Kevin Iddon - also my books are available at

I know this is one of those topics people are going to be split on, but I’m genuinely curious.I saw these receipts with ...
08/16/2026

I know this is one of those topics people are going to be split on, but I’m genuinely curious.
I saw these receipts with $0.00 on the tip line and handwritten notes explaining why. One basically says prices are too high right now, and the other says the customer is paying for the meal, not the wages.
And honestly, it made me think about how tense tipping has become.
I understand servers work hard and rely on tips. Food service is not easy, and good service deserves appreciation. But I also understand why customers are frustrated when every meal already feels expensive and tipping starts to feel less optional and more expected.
The part that feels uncomfortable is that both sides are struggling. Workers want fair pay, and customers feel like they’re being asked to make up for a system they didn’t create.
I’m not saying leaving no tip is right or wrong — I’m just saying this conversation is clearly not going away.
Be honest: is not tipping ever understandable, or should you always leave something when you dine in? See less

Did I do it right?I was so nervous, I felt like I was breaking a rule
08/16/2026

Did I do it right?
I was so nervous, I felt like I was breaking a rule

Eight years Serving... and this is the kind of check that makes you pause. Table of two. Prime rib, full service. The bi...
08/16/2026

Eight years Serving... and this is the kind of check that makes you pause. Table of two. Prime rib, full service. The bill comes out to $106.36... they leave $10. And yeah, I get it
—there's already an 18% service charge ón there. But that doesn't go to me. I'm still at $2.13 an hour. Tips aren't extra... they're the paycheck. What makes it tough is that everything felt solid. Good energy, no issues, drinks full, timing right. The kind of table you think went well. Then the tip hits., and it's not even close.lt's not about one table-it's when it keeps happening. People enjoy the experience, the service, the attention bbut don't always realize how the pay actually works behind it. That service charge? Different bucket. Tips? That's what we live on. And trying to explain that over and over? That's the part that wears you down. See less

Just a heads up for anyone thinking about eating here. This restaurant automatically adds gratuity to the bill along wit...
08/16/2026

Just a heads up for anyone thinking about eating here. This restaurant automatically adds gratuity to the bill along with a few extra charges, without clearly giving customers the option to choose.
It's always a good idea to check your receipt carefully.
Restaurants should be more transparent about added fees so customers know exactly what they're paying for. See less

35% tip… mandatory?! 😳 When the “suggested” tip starts looking like a second bill. 💸
08/14/2026

35% tip… mandatory?! 😳 When the “suggested” tip starts looking like a second bill. 💸

I had to look at this restaurant’s window sign twice because I honestly couldn’t believe what I was reading.Instead of a...
08/13/2026

I had to look at this restaurant’s window sign twice because I honestly couldn’t believe what I was reading.
Instead of advertising a special or welcoming customers inside, the sign explained that servers can earn as little as $2.13 an hour before tips and suggested that a $100 meal should really cost $122.13 with a 20% tip.
I completely understand that restaurant employees deserve fair wages, and I know many servers depend heavily on tips. But when tipping expectations are displayed before you even sit down, it can feel less like a choice and more like an obligation.
Tipping was traditionally a way to reward good service. These days, it sometimes feels like customers are expected to agree to a certain percentage before they've even received their meal or experienced the service.
If the true cost of paying restaurant employees fairly is part of running the business, should that cost simply be included in the menu prices?
What do you think? Would a sign like this make you more willing to tip, or would it make you look for another restaurant? See less

Address

105 Duane Street
New York, NY
10007

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Patrick Carter posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category