1. Tabletop Tablet and Receipt Suggested Tip Math at Applebee's
Most Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar locations utilize tabletop tablets (Ziosk or Presto). When diners select payment options on the touchscreen, the device suggests gratuity buttons starting at 18% or 20%.
Because these figures calculate against the total amount after state and local dining taxes, diners pay an extra 1.5%–2% in unintended gratuity. Choosing "Custom Tip" lets you enter the exact pre-tax amount.
2. Carside To-Go & Late-Night Half-Price Appetizers
Applebee's popularized two consumer dining staples: Carside To-Go and Late-Night Half-Price Appetizers.
For Carside To-Go, tipping 10% or $1.00 to $3.00 is standard courtesy for the employee who bags your food and delivers it to your car window. For half-price appetizers, etiquette dictates tipping based on the original full pre-discount cost of the food, as servers perform identical labor regardless of menu discounts.
3. Applebee's Pre-Tax Reference Matrix
Calculate pre-tax tips on food and drink subtotals:
- $20 Meal: 15% = $3.00 | 18% = $3.60 | 20% = $4.00
- $40 Meal: 15% = $6.00 | 18% = $7.20 | 20% = $8.00
- $70 Meal: 15% = $10.50 | 18% = $12.60 | 20% = $14.00
- $100 Meal: 15% = $15.00 | 18% = $18.00 | 20% = $20.00