When does the "Handshake" take place?

[tony67]

Do you hand the money over when you meet at the door or once your escorted to the table and about to be sat? For example, lets say the host and customer have already agreed to how much the handshake will be beforehand.

[Kinar100]

Seems to be two times you could do it.

If you are pretty much 100% all-in and have no more cash to bargain with, you can do it at the door when you meet your host. Greet the host and then shake hands. He will assume that you handed him the amount you discussed and will go over to the podium to check in your table/secure a location.

If you have some room to deal with and are unsure of your location, you can wait till you sit down and have determined if your table is suitable for the night. Then, when you shake hands to thank him for the service of reserving your table and seating you, you can do it then.

[KG25]

I never hand it over until I'm taken to the table and satisfied with the location.

[tony67]

Thats a good point. In that case, if your not happy with the location, does that mean you dish out another 100 to get somewhere else, if tables are available of course.

[ccc]

Depends on how well you know your host. If you have multiple reservations in a given weekend, you can tip them whenever you first see them if you know them well and trust that you'll be taken care of.

Otherwise, after you've been sat is best.

[chrisbru]

I always wait until I'm sat to make sure I'm getting what I planned on. If not (hasn't happened yet) I'd ask why there's a difference and asked to be switched to what we'd planned on. If they can't do it, you can lower the tip.

[dnix]

It really doesnt matter. Most good host will give the tip back if your not satisfied with your table and decide to leave.

[BigPimp]

I follow the advice of a long time host who used to post on this forum (and he posted this advice in a thread I tried to find but could not) - I tip immediately upon meeting the host. The host advised to tip before your host goes back to the podium where the clipboard with the table assignments is located. That made sense to me. The host has no idea if you are going to tip well. Why would the host give you a better table on the hope or expectation that you will tip well when seated? I am not sure that people outside of this forum tip like the posters on this forum. Of course these days I try to have the discussion in advance with the host so I know my table minimum, handshake and table location before I arrive.

[bigsi26]

not for table but when skipping the line i had a host give back some of the handshake saying it was too much, this was over mdm weekend, think it would make more sense to do it before your arrive at the table if your shooting for a better location

[JuiceJH]

sometimes the host you are working with won't be the one to walk you to the table, i'd say discuss before what the handshake is and give it to them when you are at the front of the table line

[Junkyster]

sometimes the host you are working with won't be the one to walk you to the table, i'd say discuss before what the handshake is and give it to them when you are at the front of the table line

If this is the case, and you gave the host a $500 handshake, do you also have to tip the person that walks you to the table?

[MGoBlue87]

from my experience, i dont tip the person seating me also. i have been told that they pool their tips for the most part so that person will get a share of the original handshake anyways. could be wrong, but thats my impression

[RickyRekon]

I follow the advice of a long time host who used to post on this forum (and he posted this advice in a thread I tried to find but could not) - I tip immediately upon meeting the host. The host advised to tip before your host goes back to the podium where the clipboard with the table assignments is located. That made sense to me. The host has no idea if you are going to tip well. Why would the host give you a better table on the hope or expectation that you will tip well when seated? I am not sure that people outside of this forum tip like the posters on this forum. Of course these days I try to have the discussion in advance with the host so I know my table minimum, handshake and table location before I arrive.

This is pretty much the hard truth, even though it should go the other way around. A tip is supposed to be an incentive for superior service, not a prerequisite for it.

[Chuck]

I follow the advice of a long time host who used to post on this forum (and he posted this advice in a thread I tried to find but could not) - I tip immediately upon meeting the host. The host advised to tip before your host goes back to the podium where the clipboard with the table assignments is located. That made sense to me. The host has no idea if you are going to tip well. Why would the host give you a better table on the hope or expectation that you will tip well when seated? I am not sure that people outside of this forum tip like the posters on this forum. Of course these days I try to have the discussion in advance with the host so I know my table minimum, handshake and table location before I arrive.

Pretty sure you're referencing Anthony's post from a couple years back...tried to find it but think it got wiped while cleaning up old posts a few months ago.