>>4051664It's atrocious, not worthy of a first-world country.
I'll explain. Here, first of all service is included in the bill so your waiter makes a decent living. THEN, it is considered nice to round up the tab to whatever round amount is next, say pay 60$ instead of 55. You may want to chip in if you really liked the food / service / are a regular. And if you pay with card you can leave a 2€ coin on the side, if not nobody gives a shit.
But America's tipping is really a fucking mess. Every time I go to the restaurant it just fucks up my meal. Traditionally, I eat, I pay and then I leave, afterwards I make my opinion on how good was the overall experience, because you judge a restaurant after you left it obviously.
In the US, I would have to make up my mind according to those stupid standards of 10-15-20%. Hell, I've even seen some restaurants that print out incorrect suggested tips to scam Yankees that can't into math.
Finally, US tipping encourages a waiter attitude that I find frankly obnoxious. I reckon it's subjective but in first world countries, good service is the service you don't notice. According to traditional manners, you're not even supposed to talk to your waiter (except to ask her something) because it would mean she's being to obvious. The waiter doesn't come to refill your glass after every fucking sip, you just smoothly make eye contact to signal you'd like more water.
Back when I was dating a Canadian girl, she was just so impressed by how I could ask the server anything (water, bread, a question or the bill) from a distance and with no words. That's how a smooth meal is supposed to go. I don't fucking want to have 45 years old fat Sheila coming over to my table every two minutes when I'm having a conversation that is my business alone.
TL; DR: American tipping is cancer and should be terminated
