Tipping is the most debated part of dining out.

Whether it’s about how much to leave or how servers approach the topic, the etiquette isn’t always clear, and it can lead to uncomfortable moments for both diners and staff.

Saydie Dorton (@realslimsaydie) recently shared a story on TikTok about a bad dining experience at Texas Roadhouse that left her questioning the tipping process entirely.

In her video, which has attracted more than 82,000 views as of this writing, she discusses a unique scenario in which she might choose not to leave a tip, despite being a server herself. 

What caused the tipping controversy at Texas Roadhouse?

“If my server even mentions a tip, they can forget about getting one from me,” Dorton declares.

It might be unexpected to hear this from someone working in the service industry, yet she promptly clarifies her viewpoint by sharing a personal anecdote.

Dorton remembers visiting Texas Roadhouse with three friends and immediately sensing the server's apparent irritation as soon as they took their seats.

“The waitress approached us, and it was clear that she was quite upset about us being in her area,” Dorton recounts. “I suspect it was because she saw us as being relatively young... maybe she thought we were teenagers and wouldn’t leave a good tip. From the very beginning, her demeanor was off, almost demanding, as if to say, ‘What do you want?’”

Although Dorton requested bread just a single time and is typically not hard to please, she claims that the service remained subpar. She characterizes it as “terrible,” yet she was still open to leaving a modest tip because, having worked in the industry herself, she recognizes that everyone can have an off day.

However, what ultimately drove her to her breaking point was the way the server dealt with the bill. 

What factors contributed to the deterioration of the situation?

“She... forcefully places the check on the table and writes in all capital letters with a pen, resembling bold text, ‘Tip is NOT INCLUDED,’ and the word ‘NOT’ is emphasized with three underlines,” Dorton recounts. “I was taken aback.”

Confronted with the decision of whether to leave a tip, Dorton found herself torn between two choices. “I was unsure if I should skip the tip entirely to validate her assumption that young people don’t tip,” she explains. “On the other hand, if I tipped her 20%, it might encourage her to think that her actions were acceptable.”

Ultimately, she walked away with 20% due to her own industry background, but the experience was less than pleasant. "The food was still amazing, though," she remarked. 

Is it ever acceptable to forgo a tip due to subpar service?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, tipped workers rely heavily on gratuities to reach the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. 

This brings up an important inquiry: Under what circumstances, if any, is it acceptable to lower or refrain from giving a tip, especially for service staff?

CNBC consulted etiquette experts Thomas Farley and Elaine Swann on this matter. Swann explained that while 20% is the standard tipping rate, she personally wouldn’t go below 10%, even for bad service. She also emphasized evaluating whether the issue lies with the server or if it could be attributed to management, the kitchen, or other factors beyond the server’s control.

When the service is so subpar that not leaving a tip seems justified, Swann recommended discussing the matter with management to make sure your concerns are communicated to the right people.

Audiences are in agreement with the server.

In the video's comment section, viewers expressed strong disapproval of the server's conduct and felt that Dorton was overly lenient in the conclusion.

"One user humorously commented, 'I would have written ‘and it won’t be’ instead.'" 

"I always head out to dine with the intention of tipping appropriately," another person mentioned. "However, I will NEVER reward poor service with a tip. I’m happy to give a generous tip for excellent service, and I’ll tip decently for average service, but I will not tip for subpar service."

@realslimsaydie

I understand both perspectives. It seems like some folks in my comments are assuming that's my intention, lol.

♬ original track – Saydie 💌🪩💫

"Wow, you're so much better than I am," commented another. 

The Daily Dot has contacted Dorton and Texas Roadhouse for their response.