The easiest way to leave the right amount of tip is to do what the locals do, and that is double the tax. In NYC there is an 8.875% tax added to restaurant bills, so doubling this makes about 17% which is the acceptable rate. On the bill below this would mean a rounded total of $48.00. Of course you can always leave less, but leaving double the tax, means you can also leave the restaurant with confidence. Once, ages ago, we had lunch at a small bistro near a popular hotel and were accosted by the manager at bill time. Assuming we were tourists she said we hadn’t left enough tip, and that we should leave 25%. So we were quick to give her the ‘double the tax’ speech. And funnily enough, that bistro isn’t there any more….