Quote Originally Posted by liza View Post
I tip 20% in restaurants and 20% for delivery. I don't tip for takeout (that is, when I pick it up) because I thought one didn't, but I always feel a little awkward and uncomfortable when there is a place on the receipt for a tip and I don't leave one.

I'm confused in this thread because it sounds like people are using the word "takeout" to cover a wide variety of different situations -- getting a pizza delivered, ordering Chinese food by phone and then picking it up, even getting a burger at a fast food restaurant. Aren't these usually all handled differently?
Thanks all.
Yeah, "takeout" does vary widely. We generally tip the pizza delivery guy and the Chinese food delivery guy (usually about 20%), but DON'T tip when we pick up the Chinese food or pizza. We certainly don't tip at a local fast food place (or even coffee joint, even tho' they may have a tip jar there).

The example I started with in the OP was a standard sit-down (in this case, Greek) restaurant....full service restaurant, full bar, the whole nine yards. But...their menu is available via take out. I got messed up with the "tip" line on the receipt, and wasn't sure the etiquette....if a different "standard" applied to a full-service restaurant's take out vs. a - say - Chinese food where they have no sit-down service.