[JavaBrewer]

Upfront, the wife and I worked service industry while in high school and college. So I am biased.

For me to not tip it would have to be something really wrong. If I hated the experience I would leave 10% and never return. That tip gets partially dispersed to all the supporting staff. Tipping at restaurants has been part of industry for a long long time. I was a bartender at one of the top restaurants in La Jolla for a bit longer that I care to divulge starting in the early 90's. My hourly wage was around $2 and meant nothing to me because tips were the income.

Sorry if I missed it Jeff but folks normally ask for separate checks while ordering food. And lastly the wife and I have experience with friends who think 5% for great service is good. Even though we have separate checks I say I will meet everyone in the parking lot and hand over cash to the waiter to make up the cheap tendencies of folks we are dining with.