Don’t yell at them if something goes wrong with the food order or if your food is overcooked. That’s usually not their fault, but even if it is realize that everyone makes mistakes. Treat them like you want to be treated when you mess up.

If you live in America, tip 20% for good or even subpar service. Take your bill total and multiple it by 2 and then move the decimal point one notch to the left. For example, if your bill is $133.54, you multiple that by 2 to get 267.08. Move the decimal over one and you’ve got $26.70. I’d round up just because I’m lazy.

That means if your service was good, you leave that server $27 extra. You do that because you’re a decent human being. If your service was not that great but still decent, leave 15%. I always leave 20 so I have no idea how to determine that. Most phones have a tip calculator- use it.

If the service was absolutely positively atrocious, maybe then can you consider leaving less than 15%, but try to remember that everyone has an off day sometimes and that in this economy every dollar earned counts. Be kind.