
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,719
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Strong Stuff!
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2002

1990
Rules assistance for Don't Tip The Waiter
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Don't Tip The Waiter is a board game released in 1990 for 2–4 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Stacking and Balancing.
Be the first to put all your dishes on the tray and you'll win the game. Stack up your dishes on Stretch-Out Sam's tray. Press the lever and watch his arm stretch up,up and away. Oh No! The tray tips, dishes fall. Now you'll have to keep them all. The Stacking Game of Spills & Thrills This game features Manuel the waiter, who has an incredibly long arm. At the start of the game you wind Manuel's arm into his body, place a plastic tray onto his raised hand and you're ready to play. Each player is then given the same number of dishes (but not necessarily the same of each type) and then, in turn, each player flicks a spinner which tells him how many 3D objects to place on Manuel's tray - plates, bowls, glasses, cups and saucers. So far, it's just a simple balancing game. But the spinner also tells you if you have to Tip The Waiter. If you do, you have to reach behind Manuel and flick a lever which extends his arm a short distance. The more the arm extends, the more unstable the tray of dishes becomes. Eventually Manuel's arm tips and all the dishes fall off and are given to the person who caused Manuel to drop the dishes. The object of the game is to get rid of all your dishes first. Very similar in theme and name to Don't Tip the Waiter and Don't Tip the Waiter .
Don't Tip The Waiter supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Don't Tip The Waiter is 10 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Don't Tip The Waiter for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Don't Tip The Waiter has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Don't Tip The Waiter belongs to these categories: Children's Game and Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Stacking and Balancing. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Don't Tip The Waiter as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.