[malcolmk14]

I eat out a lot, much more often than anyone I know. I've eaten in some kind of restaurant or food service establishment 181 times so far in 2012 (and for some reason I've kept track). Of course sometimes this includes little things like donuts or that 3 AM junior chicken you can't go without, so let's call it 150 times.

I tip 15-20% across the board when I dine in, $0 for takeout orders and $0 for fast-food which I don't really eat that much of. The most important thing to me is the food. If the food is good and the service somewhat adequate, I'll go back often, and I'll continue tipping 15-20%.

If the service is bad and the food is good, I'll tip my regular amount and give it another shot. I'll never visit a place with good food less than three times before I decide not to go back because of shoddy service.

There is one place I visit quite frequently that has exceptionally abrupt and I guess some would consider poor service. I visited probably 8-10 times early last year, tipped 15%, and got relatively poor service each time. The food was so good though that I couldn't stop going, so I started ordering takeout. I now go in about once a week to pick up my takeout order and I don't tip a dime (I never tip on takeout). I receive a warmer welcome and even sometimes some casual conversation more now than I ever did when I dined in. No clue why, I haven't tipped one cent at the place in a year (~40 visits). I'm recognized and greeted warmly when I go in, and I don't sense any sort of resentment from the staff that I don't tip on takeout. Maybe they just appreciate that of all the places I can take my money in Calgary I choose to take it to them once a week.

If the service and food are bad, I swallow my pride, tip the 15% and just simply don't return. Lots of other choices out there.