Do you still tip your restaurant server even if the service was atrocious?

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2. well i guess it begs the question what exactly is "unacceptable" service.

i suppose the definition of unacceptable service is service sufficiently horrible that it merits no tip, so that doesn't really answer the question.

personally, it takes a lot to get me to not leave a tip, and in particular i won't deny a server a tip just because the kitchen screwed up. the actual *service* has to be horrible for me not to leave a tip, and it's totally fine if they forget to bring something and we have to ask a second or even a third time. we get it, it's hard to nail serving in a restaurant, especially on a busy night.

we've only seen a few servers ever who are consistently top-notch, and we ask for them by name and tip them quite well (like 35-50%).

to get stiffed, a server needs to pretty much communicate that they really don't give a shit.