A $200 Dinner, A $266 Bill, And One Very Awkward Glance From The Server

Reddit user u/AlternateBinz thought they had tipping etiquette totally figured out — until one fancy dinner made them question everything they knew about math, manners, and money. Now they’re wondering if they accidentally stiffed their server… or if luxury dining just comes with a side of sticker shock.

The OP was staying at a high-end resort thanks to loyalty points, which made the room doable but the restaurant menu? Slightly terrifying. The cheapest entrée was $43 spaghetti, and that didn’t even include meatballs.

Still, they leaned in and ordered $200 worth of food and drinks, complete with top-tier service. The bill came, and that’s when things got interesting.

There was a 10% service charge already added, bringing the subtotal to $220. Then came a 12% GST, pushing the total to $246.40 — over 23% more than what they originally ordered.

Trying to do the right thing, the OP added another $20 as a tip, believing that would bring the gratuity up to 20% overall. Final total? $266.40 — a whopping 33.2% above the menu price.

But when the server returned to collect the check, the Redditor swears they saw a flicker of disappointment before the smile snapped back into place. That split-second reaction sent them spiraling.

Were they supposed to tip 20% on the original amount? On the taxed total? On top of the service charge, too?

That would’ve pushed the bill close to $286, over 43% above what they ordered. And suddenly, the OP is asking the internet the ultimate question: did they under-tip… or just wander into a lifestyle that requires a calculator and a trust fund?

Trying to do the right thing, the OP added another $20 as a tip, believing that would bring the gratuity up to 20% overall.

AI-generated image

Here’s the original post by Reddit user u/AlternateBinz.

Result: I'm TA. A 10% service charge is not a tip. Rather a "fee". Tip another 20% on top of that 10% and also tip on the 10% fee too as well as the tax. Sorry all, but I will continue to be an asshole and tip 20% of what I ordered. I can't bring myself to pay $150 when I ordered $100. TLDR: I thought a 10% service charge was a mandatory tip and tipped an additional 10% to bring it to 20%. AITA? I was staying at a pretty fancy resort I otherwise could never afford if not for loyalty points. I could barely afford to eat there as the cheapest entree was spaghetti and cost $43 USD (+5$ for meatballs). We ordered $200 of amazing food and drinks coupled with amazing service. On the bill there was a service charge of 10% for hotel staff ($220 subtotal). Then there was an automatic 12% GST on the subtotal giving a grand total of $246.40 (23.2% above what I ordered). On the gratuity line, I tipped another $20 (10% of my original bill) in order to make the service gratuity equal to 20%. Grand total was $266.40, (33.2% above my order). When the server came to grab the bill and wish us a good night, I saw his disappointment in my tip for a very brief second before his professionalism kicked back in and he was all smiles again. It was my first time at a luxury resort so I don't know, but am I really supposed to be tipping 20% on the original bill, bringing me to $286.40, an additional 43.2% charged above my order? I've also heard from some people it's best to tip 20% on the post tax total, and if that's true I'm nowhere near where I should have been. AITA for stepping into a lifestyle I have no business being in? Thanks for feedback.

Let’s see how the Reddit community reacted.

dogtrainer0875

NTA.

eventhorizon51

The UK system is better.

Tinnitus_Maximouse

GST has nothing to do with the server.

our100thecaller

Tipping is still optional.

lordcommander55

It’s not your job to pay the staff correctly.

XenaRen

It’s a fair mistake to make.

Deleted user

Never tip on the taxed total regardless.

WHY_vern

Stop whining.

terra_terror

10% is a bit cheap.

KathAIMyPal

YTA.

CoconutxKitten

Don’t go out to eat if you can’t afford to tip.

Deleted user

Yep, you’re the AH.

throwMEawaYdontU

In the end, the OP wasn’t trying to be cheap — just fair. But when service charges, taxes, and tipping culture collide, even a simple dinner can turn into a budgeting nightmare.