Tipping has become a routine part of dining out, yet it can still lead to surprisingly strong opinions. For some people, leaving 20% is the usual standard, while others decide how much to give based on the quality of service. There are also diners who believe a tip should be reserved for experiences that go above and beyond expectations.

One diner described a different philosophy, explaining that they always leave at least 20%, even when the bill is expensive. On particularly exceptional occasions, they have reportedly tipped as much as 50%. They also continue to tip when meals arrive late or cold because they recognize that the server may not be responsible for kitchen delays, food preparation, or being assigned too many tables.

For this diner, the main exception is genuinely rude behavior from the server, something they say they have encountered only once. Their reasoning is that many restaurant workers depend heavily on tips, so they do not feel it is fair to withhold a tip because of problems that were outside the server’s control. In their view, the person delivering the food should not necessarily be blamed for everything that happens behind the scenes.

Ultimately, tipping is a personal choice, and people follow many different approaches. Some diners use a fixed percentage, others adjust their tip according to the experience, while some believe restaurants should provide higher wages instead. This diner does not judge anyone for choosing differently and simply follows what feels right to them. When they decide to tip, they prefer to be generous. What about you—do you usually leave 20%, give more, give less, or tip only when the service is excellent?