I managed a family restaurant for 12 years and paid my servers minimum wage, when I left it was $5.25 hr. They also made great tips. After tipping out the barkeep and busboy the lunch servers would leave with a wage between $11 and $16 hr. And night shift was $13-$23. This was very consistant. I would never let my servers put a gratuity on the bill for large parties. I never once had a large party leave less than 18%. I let the servers know if they gave great service and did not get tipped I would provide the tip, but they still had to give great service. I think when people are forced to tip they become a little hostile, I know I do.

My temporary wife, before Galadria, had been a waitress, and made good money, but she sure had a system to tell when somebody was going to tip her well, and it worked like clockwork. She loved small parties that were all male, she would flirt with them and make 20-25%, if not more. She also said that the pretty female waitresses made much more than the waiters, especially if it was just a couple. She also had a system to tell when they weren't going to tip well or at all, but I can't post that, as it would be against the TOS. ;)