Ex-waitress reveals restaurant tipping secret most customers don't realize — expert calls it 'bad hospitality'

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Florida-based etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore discusses why leaving extra money remains optional despite increasingly common checkout prompts that can make patrons feel uncomfortable when completing a purchase. Mel Robbins learned an unusual lesson about earning big tips when she worked as a waitress: Pay attention to the women at the table. The bestselling author and podcast host recently recalled advice from a "mentor-boss" at the Red Rooster Tavern in Michigan about figuring out who really influences the gratuity. "She told me when I started waitressing the secret to getting a good tip: Understanding who has influence over who gives you the good tip," Robbins told The Wall Street Journal. SHAKE SHACK CUSTOMER HITS 'NO TIP' AT KIOSK, THEN WATCHES PRICES JUMP IN VIRAL VIDEO Most might assume that if a man picks up the check, he's also deciding