A TikTok server says she’s fine with diners skipping the tip, as long as they skip the service too, because ‘not everybody wants good service’

Tipping culture is a recurring argument on social media, and a restaurant server has now proposed a blunt trade-off for diners. TikTok user @kalinaisabella, who identifies as a server, suggested in a video that customers who opt out of a tip should also opt out of standard service, as reported by The Daily Dot.

The server starts by agreeing with the common sentiment that tipping should not be mandatory. She notes that people often tip to reward good service, but she believes the process could be much more transparent. She suggests restaurants notify customers about an automatic gratuity at the start of their meal.

If a patron does not want that charge on their bill, she proposes that the restaurant remove it, provided the request comes before the meal begins. “We won’t be able to remove it at the end of the meal or once the dinner has started, but just let us know at the beginning. We’ll remove it for you,” the creator said.

She thinks a water refill and a clean fork should cost extra

The server makes it clear that opting out of the tip also means opting out of standard service. She explains that if a guest chooses to bypass the gratuity, they should not expect the typical attentiveness from the staff. In her view, the extra effort servers provide is a paid service that diners can opt into or out of.

She provides several blunt examples of how this would look in practice. If a guest asks for a water refill, she says the server would point to a pitcher and tell them to help themselves. If a customer drops a fork, she suggests the server would direct them to a drawer to dig out their own silverware.

Her most contentious example involves food safety, as she treats allergy communication as part of the paid package. “You know, excuse me, I have a peanut allergy, and it looks like there are nuts all over this. Yeah, you know, communicating allergies to the kitchen is like a service that you can pay for,” Kalina said.

Many diners view bringing water or checking for allergens as basic duties. However, this server views them as personalized touches that come with the tip. She concludes that restaurants should accommodate all budgets and dining preferences, as not every customer wants the extra attention.

She closes by addressing diners who object to tipping on top of the bill. “Absolutely, I agree with you. You shouldn’t have to pay for all the extra little personalized touches that we silly little servers do. Give people the option. Not everybody wants to tip. Not everybody wants good service,” Kalina said.