Here is yet another discussion on tips

I've dined out all my life and understand and appreciate the difficulties of working in, managing or owning a restaurant. I've always taken pride in the fact that I am a generous tipper, not being magnanamous but I eat out for enjoyment and compensate more than fairly. I understand difficulty of children, people who can't make up their minds, changing orders etc... so I believe it's in my best interest to be better than fair. Waiters and restaurants that know me bend over backwards because they know that not only are they rewarded but they are also treated politely.

Having said that I saw something yesterday that I've never seen. Actually I wasn't dining it was my wife but she showed me. Her and a friend, both of whom have several meals out a week and are about the same as me, had lunch at Mansur's. They split the check each tossed a credit card up and said cut it down the middle which is typically how we do it when we are with other couples.

Two women. Two identical checks. Both had handwritten, 20% added to the check and handwritten totals when the reciept returned for them to sign.

Restaurant policy when splitting checks or party of 7 or more. Manager said it's on the menu they should have checked. Sorry. Policy.

I have never seen this except on larger parties which I accept. They didn't give the old "well I only had the side salad and she had the fish so go do the math then we'll sign it." Split in two. Divide by two. One simple math problem.

They didn't complain but they certainly found it odd. And the bad thing is they would have tipped probably closer to 30% had they been allowed to.

Well...that restaurant just lost two lunch ladies that enjoy a nice bottle of wine with it and tip on total.

They lost me years ago when at lunch they seated a man with a black AC/DC tee shirt on with cut off sleeves and sweaty pits next to me. I had to smell him while eating my trout.

Sorry Mansur's. We're done.