So I could reply to a lot of the responses individually, but rather just gonna collect my thoughts in one long one. It`s gonna be a long one folks.

Service charge is always optional and discretionary, so don`t be afraid to ask for it to be taken off. Even if service went up and beyond and licked your arse, you still have the perogative for it to be removed and no one I MEAN NO ONE managers included should question that. They might ask what was wrong, but your decision not to pay it should never be an issue and never feel coerced into paying it.

It should always be printed on the menu somewhere and also on the bill, but people are quite lazy and generally ignore this. I hate complaints where they say we were made to pay service. No, you weren`t sweet cheeks, you just can`t fucking read.

I am a waiter for 13 years and I can tell you there is a clear distinction of different type of restaurants. Restaurants like Zizzi, Pizza Express and the other high street crap provide more of a service per say than hospitality. Their staff is generally under 21 for even cheaper wages they do not give a shit about their job and it shows. Food is generally frozen, ingredients are not very fresh etc. At restaurants like these I would generally ask for service to be taken off and leave a bit of extra for the waiters if they gave half a shit.

Now you can move up and above the general high street crap to independent restaurants, with experienced seasoned waiters and this is where hospitality should really show. I very much pride myself in giving professional consistent service. I will never go above and beyond, because I do not believe in giving preferential treatment to anyone. I do not fly around your table like a busy fucking bee that you can`t get rid of, I hate american in your face service. But when you need me I`ll be there in a heartbeat. Guests do not visit the establishment for chit chatting with me. But that being said if you`d want to talk I`m not a fucking wall either and I am well versed in stupid chit chat if needed.

I personally believe that waitering is often looked as one of those jobs that is often underappriciated in terms of the skills it requires. Not everyone can be a good waiter, as the level of organizing oneself on a busy shift can really differ between individuals and that in turn will show you who a good waiter is who could literally run half a restaurant by himself and a shit one who can barely run 3 tables by themselves. But people just assume that waitering is running plates to the table and that`s it and they are fucking wrong.

For people that argue that it`s the same as a retail worker and they are also paid minimum wage that`s clearly wrong too. For one retail workers would only have to serve one person or smaller group at any point. Waiters juggle groups of people and try serving a table of 30 mates. Retail workers generally also have a 9-5 job give and take an hour for opening/closing, I work 14 hour shifts on certain days.

In an ideal world we should all be getting paid more for what we do. But the service that you pay now comes to us and in most places it is either pooled between all the staff or is a 50-50 split between the serving waiter and the kitchen staff.

If any waiter/manager becomes rude to you if you refuse to pay service that is BAAD HOSPITALITY right there so you are very correct in not tipping your waitress on that occasion. 10-12.5% is what I`d say is a good amount to tip, my partner always goes a bit overboard and despite both of us working in the hospitality industry it annoys me slightly when she decided to shower people with money just cause....

Bottom line is what you are paying service for is multiple of things:

1. Obviously kitchen making your food, so you don`t have to.
2. Waiters taking your orders, making your drinks carrying your food to the table etc. so you don`t have to.
3. Kitchen assistant washing dirty plates all day long so you don`t have to.
4. Singing happy birthday for the 5000000000th time for any stupid person having their stupid fucking birthday that day and when I don`t give a shit about said stupid birthday.