Andrew Neil has revealed how he had a New York waiter dismissed for demanding a higher gratuity, as he cautioned Britons against adopting the 'aggressive' American tipping culture. The Daily Mail columnist and radio host described being publicly embarrassed after leaving a $150 (£110) cash tip—15 per cent of the bill—only to be loudly confronted at his table.
This incident follows celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay facing criticism for imposing a 20 per cent service charge at his upscale Lucky Cat restaurant in London. Neil recounted hosting friends and contacts at a 'rather fancy and expensive' New York eatery in 2012 when he was 'upbraided' over his tip amount.
'The waiter came back in that aggressive New York way and said quite loudly, "Was there something wrong with the meal or the service, Mr Neil?"' Neil said. 'I said no, it was fine. "Oh, because the tip is a bit light," he said. This was in front of everybody. It was embarrassing, so I rummaged in my pocket for more dollars and gave him a bigger tip.'
His guests watched as the scene unfolded, and the waiter departed 'without a word of thanks'. Neil continued: 'However, he was unlucky, because I happened to know the owner of that restaurant, and I called him later that night and [the waiter] was fired in the morning.'
Neil asserted that America's tipping culture is 'out of hand' and must not be welcomed into 'dear old Blighty'. He added: 'Ever since then I've taken no nonsense from aggressive New York waiters. I'm from Paisley and can give as good, if not better than I get. Tips are war in New York restaurants. Stand up for yourself. Don't be mean but don't fall over in embarrassment when they behave badly.'
Neil later discovered the waiter had a 'track record' of such behaviour and said he 'didn't lose any sleep' over the incident. He urged people not to accept American tipping customs in Britain. 'Lots of things start in America and end up here,' he said. 'Lots of good things like smartphones and streaming television and great dramas, and lots of bad things like Black Friday and tipping. I can tell you that tipping is out of hand in America, particularly in the East Coast states and the big cities on the West Coast.'
In the US, waiters often earn less than the general minimum wage, with tips expected to supplement their income. In New York, the minimum wage for most workers is $17 (£12.50) per hour, but for food service staff it is $11.35 (£8.40). Employers must make up the difference only if tips are insufficient. Bills and payment machines frequently suggest gratuities of 20, 25, or even 30 per cent, and some American waiters on Reddit claim annual earnings of $100,000 (£74,000).
This culture is gradually seeping into Britain, with card payment devices now requesting tips even at takeaways. Standard restaurant service charges have risen from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent at many outlets since the pandemic. Consumer champion Martyn James emphasised that employers should pay staff properly rather than rely on customers to subsidise wages, as Britain will not tolerate a US-style tipping system.
'As a society, British people are really quite generous, but there is a line,' James said. 'I think once tipping becomes a requirement or an obligation, British people can be equally stubborn, and we just won't do it at all. My personal feeling is the American style of tipping is never going to land in Britain because it's excessive and it's unfair. Demanding high tips is basically a tacit admission that you are underpaying your staff.'
James added that hidden service charges on bar and takeaway bills are 'insidious', and that restaurant service charges should be prominently displayed on bills so customers can easily see and challenge them if necessary. Referring to 20 per cent charges like those at Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat, James said: 'If I saw that on my bill, I would refuse to pay it. The fact that they presumed to do that on my behalf automatically means I'm annoyed. Big, expensive restaurants should pay their staff better. Don't subsidise your poor wages by over-charging customers.'
Some restaurateurs have blamed higher taxes and business costs imposed by the government for rising service charges. The increasing popularity of contactless payments also means many patrons no longer carry cash for tips.
