galle

The bill already has "10% Service Charge." Do I still need to tip the waiter?

Asked 8 months agoSeen by 1,282 travellers

We had dinner at a nice restaurant in Galle Fort. The bill included a 10% Service Charge (SC) and government taxes.

The waiter still hovered around looking for a tip. Does the Service Charge actually go to the staff? Or should I leave cash on the table too?

galle food culture etiquette tipping money dining

asked 8 months ago

Dylan Cohen•100 rep•1

1 Answer from travellers

Verified Local Expert

This is a hotly debated topic, even among locals.

The Theory: Legally/Technically, the 10% Service Charge is supposed to be pooled and distributed to all staff (waiters, kitchen, cleaners) at the end of the month.

The Reality: In many management-run hotels/restaurants, the owners keep a portion (or all) of it to cover "breakages" or profits. The staff often don't see the full amount.

The Custom: If the service was good, we usually leave a small cash tip (LKR) directly to the waiter.

Lunch/Cafe: Leave the small change (100-200 LKR).

Dinner: An extra 500 – 1,000 LKR handed directly to your server is very appreciated and ensures he actually gets money to take home that night.

answered 8 months ago

Viraj PereraVerified Local Expert•353 rep•2

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