You are learning etiquette, tips, and service: you will read the scene it happens in, learn 10 words and phrases, take apart the pattern behind them (should / supposed to / expected to (social obligations)), hear them in a conversation, rehearse them, and finish by saying one thing out loud to be graded.
Various NYC restaurants and service situations
When I first came to America, nobody explained tipping to me. I thought it was optional. I was wrong. In New York, tipping is part of the culture -- servers earn most of their income from tips.
Here's what I learned: at restaurants with table service, you should tip 18 to 20 percent of the bill before tax. If the service was amazing, tip more. If it was bad, tip 15 percent minimum. Never stiff the server -- they might have had a bad day, but they still did their job.
At bars, you're supposed to tip one to two dollars per drink. At coffee shops, there's usually a tip jar -- a dollar is nice but not required. For food delivery, you're expected to tip 15 to 20 percent, especially in bad weather.
The trickiest part? Some restaurants include an automatic gratuity for large groups. Always check the bill before adding more. And if you're splitting the bill with friends, make sure each person tips on their portion. My friend taught me: 'When in doubt, tip twenty percent. A few extra dollars make someone's day.' She was right. Being generous feels good.