Greg Johnson wrote:
> The other threads regarding tipping in bars and restaurants in the US
> have neglected one interesting facet of the New York experience. The
> following information applies generally to locally owned and operated
> bars and taverns as opposed to those in hotels or operated by large
> companies.
> It is customary in New York (and few other places unless visited by many
> New Yorkers) for a bar customer to order his/her drinks and put a twenty
> or more on the bar. The bartender will then put the change back on the
> bar in front of the patron. LEAVE IT THERE! It's not going anywhere
> and the bartender then knows that you know how the game is played. He
> will continue to take out for each round and return the change to your
> pile. Replenish as necessary. You don't need to keep counting it, it
> will all be there, relax and enjoy yourself. Talk to the guy - the
> weather and sports will work for starters. He'll know better than
> anyone where you should go for dinner.
Hi,
this isn't just new york.
seems to be the custom in many (most) working class locals all over the
US (white bars at least... the south (and other places... but I live at
the northern edge of the mississippi delta) is still largely segragated
unofficially... if you walk into a bar catering to another ethnic group
you'll generally know FAST).
but yea... instead of running a tab you just leave your change on the
bar and the bartender takes/makes change as needed... he's also the guy
to ask for change for the pool tables or jukeboxes.
> Don't be surprised if, after buying three drinks (or rounds), you don't
> get charged for the next one. Sometimes you may have an inverted shot
> glass put with your change as a marker before your freebie. That is
> "the buyback". He may say "it's on me" or on the house or may just rap
> his knuckles on the mahogany. This process is well known to repeat
> itself at regular intervals as the shift progresses.
>
> Do not accept buybacks if you are not prepared to tip the bartender.
I've found a variation on this in Amsterdam.... I tend to drink in the
same locals... either the Cafe de Dam on damstraat or Cafe Zwart on
Spui... and I don't visit in season... so both are at least half
locals... but after a beer or two (they're little beers) just buy the
place a round... in the cafe de dam (it's a -SMALL- place) that's like
10 euros most of the time... Cafe Zwart is bigger and plusher... (and
closed on sunday... go to cafe hoppe instead but don't buy them a round)
all of a sudden you find you're getting charged LOCAL prices for your
beer... and the patron remembers you next visit (I settled into the Cafe
de Dam by wandering into it twice just because it looked like a nice
friendly place... it is NOT a coffee shop)....
and being an honorary "local" can have it's priviledges... wife and I
were there for queen's day a while back and managed to get the window
table (there aren't but 2 tables in the place) at the cafe de dam to
watch the scene from....
ttyl
akia
--
Great European Travel Info
- The Real FAQs-
http://www.jack-travel.com |