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Looking for restaurants featuring counter/bar dining? Click: eating at the bar Interested in restaurants featuring communal table dining? Click: eating with others Can You Tip Too Much? Here’s the good news — there are no wrong answers to this question. The bad news — not really — there are no right answers. That said — getting the hang of creative tipping is easy. For starters, decide on your objective or what you hope to receive in return from a restaurant. This will help you determine whether to leave a larger tip than usual. To discover your objective, consider the following questions: * Do you plan to revisit the restaurant? (Does the quality of your dining experience rate another visit?) * Do you need to make a quick, favorable impression? (Will you be in town for a short time?) * Do you want to signal your intention to become one of the restaurant's “cherished regulars"? Here’s an example of creative tipping that worked for a solo diner and reader of Going Solo, a newsletter no longer in publication: During his travels, when he discovers a solo-friendly restaurant he wants to cultivate, he leaves his business card, plus double his usual tip. The next time he visits, and thereafter, the staff knows him by name. The service is superb — and he returns to tipping as usual! P.S. If the “tipping dilemma” seems overwhelming, consider this: solo-friendly restaurateurs believe solos ought not feel presssure to tip more than they do when dining with a companion or group. Seeking guidance on how to tip other people essential to your well-being — like people who deliver food, taxi driver, manicurist, etc.? (Ought not neglect your Tatoo Artist either!) Do check out HospitalityManagementSchool.org's interactive graphic: "How to Respond to Hospitality." Their design team created it in light of national waiter and waitress Day — May 21st. It's fun and very helpful. Click: Tipping Return to Top Sooner or later, EVERYONE — business and pleasure travelers, singles, those divorced or widowed, very-marrieds whose spouses are on the road, harried moms and dads, etc. — faces the challenge of eating out alone! THE How-to Booklet of Solo Dining Tips & Strategies: The Art and Satisfaction of Dining Alone — REVEALED! is now available for purchase in PDF format! If you have questions or comments about this Web page or site, e-mail: webmaster@SoloDining.com. © 2012 SoloDining.com Return to Top