A family dinner at Olive Garden left one customer wondering whether a standard restaurant tip is still as common as she thought.
TikTok creator Jenny said a server returned to her table three separate times after she paid the bill, thanking her during each visit. By the time she walked out, she was wondering whether leaving a 20% tip had become less common than she realized.
In the video, Jenny said she, her husband and their three children had recently visited an Olive Garden in North Richland Hills, Texas. After ordering an appetizer, entrees and dessert, the family’s bill came to about $113. While her husband boxed up leftovers and kept an eye on their five-year-old, Jenny paid using the restaurant’s tabletop kiosk and left what she described as her usual gratuity.
The interaction Jenny couldn’t stop thinking about
Jenny said she tipped 20% on the total, explaining that’s her standard unless the service is “abnormally horrible.” She said the service didn’t come close to that, describing the server as attentive throughout the meal.
According to Jenny, the surprise came after she settled the bill. She said the server, whom she identified as West, first stopped by to thank the family and wish them a good weekend. A few minutes later, he returned to ask whether they wanted drinks to go before thanking them again.
@imjennyfromtheshop Okay but I need to know… what’s everyone’s normal tip percentage at restaurants right now? 👀🍽 Between restaurant prices going up, fast casual checkout screens asking for tips, and everyone having different opinions on tipping culture… I feel like this conversation gets HEATED fast 😂 Are you a strict 20% tipper no matter what? Do you tip based on service? Do you tip at coffee shops and takeout too? I need honest answers because apparently everyone does this differently. Drop your restaurant tipping rules below 👇 #tippingculture #restauranttalk #serverlife #restauranttips #creatorsearchinsights
♬ original sound – jennyfromtheshop
Jenny said she still didn’t think anything was unusual because her family was finishing dessert and getting ready to leave. The third visit caught her off guard. She recalled the server crouching beside the table, pulling out his phone and showing her a photo of his young daughter while saying, “I just want to let you know that everything that you just did goes to her.”
She thanked him, wished him a good weekend and headed outside with her family. On the walk to her car, she said she couldn’t stop thinking about why he had thanked her so many times.
She told viewers she couldn’t remember the last time a server had reacted that way to a tip, asking, “Do people not tip 20% anymore?” Calling herself “extremely confused,” she ended the video by asking others what they usually tip when eating out. Jenny’s question also comes as more diners turn to social media to compare restaurant experiences, whether they’re discussing service, tipping or the quality of the food itself.
The comments quickly filled with responses from people who said they work in restaurants, many agreeing with Jenny’s takeaway. One of the most-liked replies came from someone who wrote, “I’m a server and it’s RARE people tip 20%.”
Others simply shared how they approach tipping. One commenter wrote, “Dine in: 20% Carryout: 10%,” while another said, “I tip like I’m made of money. I’m no baller, but I tip like I am! It makes me feel good to show gratitude to others who are out here hustling.”
Another commenter who said they work at Olive Garden echoed the sentiment, writing, “dude as an olive garden server SOOOO many tables tip 10% and under or just straight up $0.” Not everyone agreed that 20% had become unusual, however. One commenter appeared surprised by the discussion, asking, “I thought 20 percent was the normal?”
The conversation also highlights how expectations around tipping have changed over time. While 15% was once widely regarded as the standard gratuity for table service, many diners now consider 18% to 20% the typical range for good service. Rising menu prices, inflation and digital tipping prompts have also led some diners to rethink how much they leave, even as 18% to 20% remains a common benchmark for good service.
Jenny never suggested the server was asking for more money. Instead, she was left wondering whether his repeated thanks were a sign that a 20% tip has become less common for many restaurant workers.
