Mary King | Source | Restaurant Analyst, Editor @ The Restaurant HQ at TechnologyAdvice
Mary King
Mary King is a veteran restaurant manager with firsthand experience in all types of operations from coffee shops to Michelin-starred restaurants. Mary spent her entire hospitality career in independent restaurants, in markets from Chicago to Los Angeles. She has spent countless hours balancing tills, writing training manuals, analyzing reports and reconciling inventories.
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TechnologyAdvice (https://technologyadvice.com/)
Restaurant Analyst, Editor @ The Restaurant HQ
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Is It Better To Tip in Cash or on a Card? Experts Weigh In
When paying for your bill at a restaurant, bar or cafe, it's customary to provide a gratuity. But is it better to pay the tip in cash or add it to your credit card receipt? Lisa Mirza Grotts, an...
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Americans want tips to be optional
Seventy-three percent of respondents prefer tipping to be optional, according to a new survey.
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If A Restaurant Server Does This 1 Little Thing, They're Likely To Get A Bigger Tip
Although there is no industry standard, folks in the culinary world have strong opinions.
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Pandemic Innovations: Self-Service Tech and Takeout Transform Restaurants
Mary notes that "self-service tech introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay." QR code menus, kiosks, and robots are now common, reducing staff needs. Online ordering remains popular, leading to redesigned spaces for takeout. These innovations, sparked by COVID-19, are permanent. -
Tipping Culture in the US: A Call for Clarity and Change
Mary notes a shift in tipping culture, highlighting the rise of "anti-tipping" sentiments and confusion between tips and service fees. She stresses the complexity of changing norms due to varied regulations and the preference of tipped workers for tip-based models. Mary emphasizes the need for clarity in distinguishing voluntary tips from mandatory fees. -
Cash vs. Card Tips: What Restaurant Workers Prefer
Mary explains that credit card tips can incur processing fees, reducing workers' earnings. Cash tips often provide immediate access to funds, while both cash and card tips are treated equally in tip pools. However, cash tips can lead to underreporting issues, risking audits and penalties. "Underreporting tips is absolutely not worth the headache," Mary advises.
