The point wasn't that it was bad etiquette on our part, but that they shouldn't have said anything in the first place. Sometimes it happens, some people don't have all the money in the world, and I wasn't the one paying. It should NOT have cost that much in my opinion, and it wasn't a filling meal without costing that much. But if they needed a tip so bad, they should add a gratuity charge to the bill *instead* of asking for one. It's not like you go "GASP So rude! They didn't leave a tip!" Not to the person's face at least... In my opinion, that's worse than not leaving a tip in the first place, and I wouldn't want to even give them a tip after being asked for one. I've not left tips at some restaurants before, not enough money on me, etc. but no one asks out right, nor should they. If I didn't tip the first time for that reason, I'd probably tip more the second time when I had the money. Sure I felt bad about it, at first before they asked, but there was nothing I could do about it after everyone already ordered their food.