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I took a "coat check girl" job last night in New York at one of the steak houses because I am in need of some extra cash. Going from an office job to behind the scenes at a restaurant was a complete eye-opener. I am a very thrifty person and I never check my coat, always hanging it on the chair behind me, unless I am attending an event where everyone checks their coat - and even then I can't recall even tipping one dollar, although I probably have, because I never paid any attention to the coat check people. I can tell you that it is a tough job. I worked very hard to keep the coat room organized and took special care of people's things. I tried to return their belongings as quickly as I could when they returned with their tags. It was pouring rain last night, so people had a lot of bags and wet umbrellas that they wanted to store. It was amazing to me how many people checked two umbrellas and a heavy attache in one bunch, and tipped $1. One group checked 10 huge umbrellas together in one group, then tipped $5, which was at least better than nothing. I am sad to say that most of the women, if they were alone or with other women, did not even tip me $1. The men were by far the most generous tippers, some tipping $5 and one fellow $10. Even thinking about the $10 tip makes me appreciate this guy even more, because he must have a better understanding of what it means to be a coat check person than I did before I took this job. I can tell you that every dollar is greatly appreciated. I worked solely for tips, and the restaurant took 20%.

Hmmmm....is it worth the effort taking on spsolomon? As regards Sotohiro's excellent food and keen ability probably not, for even sp, after finally having put his mouth where his pen hastily went first, acknowledges Sotosan's outstanding quality. "Fantistic!" was the word he used.

His going on to make comparisons and his suggesting that there is a great world beyond fantastic doesn't really merit any attention more than to say that he was clearly prejudiced beforehand and emerged, well-fed and presumably content, still as prejudiced as before. Ah, consistency...

Regarding sp's price prejudice I only wish to recall that a fave comedian of mine, Jackie Mason, did a routine wherein Jews got off getting things only when they could be had for under wholesale, whereas Gentiles only got off by paying full price. From Jackie's perspective sp would have to be a Super-Gentile.

Now tomorrow I am off to another fine meal at Soto. It will be fantastic; I have sp's assurance as well as my own past experience. And, based on that experience I can safely say that like as not it will be such that I wont be tempted to compare it to the meal I had at Karuma, for it will be sufficient unto itself--an experience of absolute value, whole, complete and, as such, transportation to a level of being wherein the spirit is exalted in seeing, as God once did, that it was Good.

Here in Michigan of course you wear a coat, usually nine months out of the year, but I guess I don't go to the kind of restaurants who have coatchecks or have $14.00 soup/sandwiches. But, if I were to ever go to the restaurant that has these things, of course I would tip the coatcheck girl if I used that service. A tip for your table service is expected so I have to assume that the coatcheck girl, and, the lady in the restroom who hands out the towels would also be tipped. If you don't want to tip these people, then don't go to this kind of restaurant. You'll save a lot more money buying the $7.98 bowl of soup and sandwich at a lesser restaurant, which is probably just as good as the expensive one. Do you buy a $14.00 bowl of soup and a sandwich just to impress someone? Certainly laying your coat on a chair just to save a couple bucks would sure impress me. NOT!

Thanks for the diverse inputs. My biggest problem with tipping coat check and restroom folks is that I usually do not have cash or small bills. I debit card/charge most things. Usually for coat check I can arrange to get cash while dining from my partner or ask for change. But it can be a hassle. Sometimes I overtip but that seems preferable to stiffing the person.

The last time I went to the attendant serviced men's room at Saks in NYC I did not have a dollar and felt terrible. I got one from my partner and went back and gave it to the gentlemen. It was the right thing to do and I felt better for it.

Tipping in those instances is a cost that comes with certain environments. If you are there then do what is expected.

Guilt should have nothing to do with it.

Reason, though, should. If you can afford $15 plus tax and tip for the server for lunch but you can't afford $15 plus tax and tip for the server plus tip for the coat check person....then you couldn't afford $15 plus tax and tip for the server for lunch to begin with.

These aren't the kinds of savings that are reasonable to look for or budget for. They're "$40 a Day" kinds of savings. The way you save "in these times" or deal with the "uncertain economic climate" is to go out less. When you do go out, go and do the normal things which while they need not include every extravagance, should include _your_ normal things. If you'd normally check your coat, check it. If you'd normally valet your car, valet it. Just do what you normally do.

There is no need to pay for a service you don't use. There's also no need to feel guilty about it.

I just realized that the two times (that I can recall) I've checked my coat (at different DC restaurants), I did not leave a tip. Both times the hostess asked if I wanted to check my coat, so I figured it was just something they were required to ask. There wasn't a separate coat check room with an attendant or anything (if there had been, I would've tipped, like you see in movies/tv shows).

Unless you're supposed to tip the coat-taking hostess? But then, wouldn't it be tacky to hand her a couple of dollar bills in view of everyone? I don't know.

As you can tell, I don't go to fancy restaurants often.

There's no obligation to check your coat assuming it won't be in people's way, but if you do check it, please tip. Coat check is a fickle and seasonal gig and everyone who works at that job knows it. In my experience it pays more than minimum tipping wage for an hourly, but is no way to make a living.

As far as restroom attendants go, they don't just turn on the tap and hand you a towel- they're generally responsible for constantly cleaning and keeping up the restroom. Some intoxicated patron misses the bowl? Guess who cleans it up so that you can sit on a sanitary toilet.

In general, I tell people that if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to eat out. Unfortunately, many restaurant employees rely on tips for their livelihoods. I think all employees should be paid a living wage, but in most of the US, $2.15/hr is sufficient for those who make tips. Until that changes, stiffing any tipped employee sends the message that they're not even worth federal minimum wage.

Note to self: Fargo might be a nice place to be a coat checker.

And if you choose not to use a service that's provided, then that is your choice. Ilove all these people here telling others that they 'should' check their coats, ans saying or implying that there's an obligation to provide financial support to a coatcheck person, or to prevent the restaurant from looking unsightly. Huh? If I'm wearing a decent long winter coat, I'll check it. (And tip the checker.) If it's a short coat, I'll keep it on my chair. If someone doesn't make enough coat check tips, let them find a different job. And if a restaurant doesn't like the sight of coats on chairs or coathooks, let them institute a mandatory coat check policy. (I which case I would probably find other places to spend my dining out money.)

Bottom line: If you want to check your coat, you should do so and tip.If you don't want to, don't let any of the nannies here guilt you into it.

If you didn't use the service provided, there is no need ot tip. It's that simple.

Sorry, but this seems like a ridiculous story not worthy of serious eats. If you're going to check, then you should tip the coat check. If you don't feel like you want to tip someone a buck or two, then keep your coat. If you're dining at Gramercy Tavern, then two bucks for the coat check shouldn't be such a big deal. If you can't spare those two bucks, then rethink where to dine.

My husband has been hit by that Ed. He feels guilty that he is spending money to start with when so many of our friends don't have jobs and then tries to cut back when we are out, not so much because he is cheap, he is usually a way overatipper, but feels guilty that he shouldn't be spending the money.

I on the other hand, will try to save the economy the best I can, and am on my way out now to buy baby shower gifts and then take my parents out to dinner.

Everyone, share what you have!!