I'm a server at a Hamptons restaurant that got rid of tipping. It's made my life so much easier.

Mon, 10/23/2023 - 05:10

a woman and her husband at a restaurant — Dara Abrams and her husband at Calissa, where they both work.
Courtesy of Dara Abrams

Dara Abrams has worked as a server in the Hamptons since 1996.
She works at Calissa, a Greek restaurant with a no-tip model where she earns a living wage.
The reliable income has allowed her to live comfortably year-round and save for a trip to Italy.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dara Abrams, a server at Calissa in the Hamptons. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I moved to the Hamptons right after college in 1996 and started waitressing to make ends meet. After falling in love with the business, I worked at many well-known spots such as Bobby Van's, Basilico, and Little Red.