Australians, it seems, are not that partial to tipping.

According to a study commissioned by online restaurant reservation platform, OpenTable, and conducted by Galaxy Research, 21 per cent of Australian diners never leave a tip at all.

Only one in five says they always or frequently leave a tip when dining out.

Others said they did it occasionally (28 per cent) or rarely (30 per cent).

And there’s also plenty of variation on how big a gratuity they would leave.

The research shows that less than half (47 per cent) would leave 10 per cent of the total bill. Less than a fifth (17 per cent) would leave up to 20 per cent.

It’s all very confusing.

No wonder the majority of respondents (80 per cent) said they feel confused about tipping etiquette.

John Fink, creative director at Fink Group, the owners of restaurants such as Quay, Otto and Bennelong said Australians have a different approach to tipping.

"Australia is far more relaxed about tipping than many other countries,"  Fink told goodfood.com.au

"Although the hospitality minimum wage is significantly higher than many overseas destinations, our culture celebrates hard work with a gratuity seen as a gift of thanks,” he said.

“Creating beautiful food and a memorable dining experience is a restaurateurs' top priority, with a tip being a nice way for diners to show their appreciation."

But  Lisa Hasen, vice-president of OpenTable, Asia-Pacific said Australians do leave a tip when they feel it’s deserved.

"Unlike in other international destinations, tipping in Australia isn't compulsory," Hasen told goodfood.com.au

"With no set benchmark, Australian diners are often left feeling confused and apprehensive about tipping. Despite this, our research shows that Australians are willing to leave a tip when the experience exceeds expectations in a big way, be it outstanding service or incredible food."

by Leon Gettler, May 15^th 2017