By Linda Lauby

There it was, a little sign on the tip cup at Southern Bean in The Marketplace: Tipping Makes You Sexy!

I laughed as I tossed a few coins in the cup after paying for my coffee, and thought, you know, tipping DOES make you sexy. That thought led to an impromptu poll of the other women at the counter. While not all agreed that the act of tipping added to one’s sexiness, there was unanimous agreement that people who neglected to leave a tip or those who under-tipped were most definitely UN-sexy.

To whit, I used to share meals with a former co-worker in New York who was a notoriously cheesy tipper. At the end of each meal, we’d spar over the bill, mainly because I was afraid that my dining companion would leave a gratuity that was less than appropriate for the attentive service that we always received. He often won the duel for the check and would gallantly turn down my offer — no, plea — to pay the gratuity. I’d cringe as I glanced at his meager gratuitous consideration to our server, and then would start scheming about how to make good the deficiency.

"I’ll just duck into the ladies’ room before we leave; why don’t you wait for me outside?" I’d say, although that tactic seldom worked in inclement weather. While a waitress was sending scathing looks across the dining room, I’d work at telepathically sending messages that I’d be back, soon. And when a waiter would snarl, "Have a nice night," such comments would run through my mind as, "This isn’t a date, you know; I wouldn’t actually go out with a man who tipped like this!" Sneaking back later that evening or the next day, I’d explain that my friend was mathematically challenged…

"There are no positive connotations to bad tipping," says Greg Bailey, who waits tables at Ocean Boulevard. "If someone’s a poor tipper you get the impression that they’re chintzy and self-centered," he explains. "It doesn’t matter how nice you are, if you don’t tip you’re wasting our time — we’re at work, and we’re getting paid to work."

Bailey goes on to say that men who over-tip to impress a woman are decidedly not sexy either, but that’s another topic.

So what’s the fine line between miserly and munificent? Fifteen percent of the bill has long been a standard for competent service. If you’ve enjoyed good service, don’t you dare tip less than 20 percent — and you have the added benefit of speedy calculations (10 percent of the bill times two). If your server or maitre d’ has gone out of his or her way to make your meal extra-special — such as arranging for a birthday cake, juggling last-minute reservations, or collaborating on a surprise for your dining companion — you may want to think about digging a little deeper. If a big night out means taking advantage of a "buy one, get one free" meal coupon, please remember that your tip should reflect the meal’s full price, before discount. Also consider that servers generally tip out busboys, kitchen staff and bartenders at the end of a shift. In many establishments, this figure is calculated upon each server’s total sales, not as a percentage of the tips they receive.

Does tipping make you sexy? It just might. No matter what, it sure paves the way for good service the next time you decide to dine out at your favorite restaurant.