Is the standard restaurant tip on the rise in Toronto? According to an article published by the Toronto Star today, some restaurateurs are using wireless debit and credit machines to prompt diners to leave more than the generally agreed upon 15 per cent. Although it's yet to be determined how widespread the practice is, the fact that some restaurants are urging customers to up their gratuity is enough to get people talking about what's fair and reasonable when it comes to compensating servers in this city.

Earlier today we asked our Twitter followers to share what they think the standard tip should be in Toronto and to weigh in on whether or not 20 per cent was too high. The answers are expectedly varied, but one trend worth noting is that diners aren't jazzed with the idea that they'd be obligated to tip more because restaurant owners aren't willing to bump up their employees wages.

Frankie Solarik is best known as Toronto's ambassador to molecular mixology, an offshoot of the modernist approach to haute cuisine developed and made famous by chefs like Ferran Adria at his world renown restaurant located in rural Catalonia, El Bulli.

Ashley Jacot De Boinod admits to being totally "disgusting," hence the name (and tagline) of her gourmet, old fashioned doughnut business — Glory Hole Doughnuts. Since I believe myself to be of the mind of a 15-year-old boy cloistered in the body of an adult female, I can see where she's coming from. Though it was actually Ashley's husband who came up with the name for her company, which has been supplying Toronto with its Maple Bacon, Fried Chicken & Waffles, Lemon Meringue, and other doughnut varieties since summertime.

This week on DineSafe, a couple national chains had a rough go of it. Manchu Wok at 20 Bloor East was slapped with a whopping nine infractions after inspection, and the Swiss Chalet on Bayview in North York was ultimately shut down after failing to maintain premises "free of sewage back-up." You've ruined the Festive Special forever, Bayview Swiss Chalet.

Moving south, the venerable Sarah's Shawarma, known for its cheap and delicious shawarma and falafel sandwiches, was snagged on a couple of conditions and given a yellow pass, as was a new Roncy Cafe erected in the former home of an (unwelcome) Second Cup. Rounding out the list are a couple of neighbourhood watering holes, a souvlaki spot, and a place to eat "wholesome" down on Front. Here are just a few of the fails and almost-fails on DineSafe this week.

The beautiful but mostly empty Queen West Market, across from the MuchMusic building will soon be transformed into a healthy food court, but not as soon as originally planned. The Grove, as it will be called, was initially scheduled to open by the end of 2011. But delays in design and planning have set the grand opening back until April of this year, says Lisa Borden, a founding partner of establishment.

This week on DineSafe, very few restaurants were charged with dreaded "crucial" infractions. Call it a holiday gift, as most of the inspected restaurants managed to come out unscathed this week. Well, "unscathed" if you don't count the overall conditional pass. Perhaps Toronto Public Health inspectors were in merry, festive moods and easy on the assessment (let's hope not, for our collective sake), or else restaurants cleaned up in preparation for the new year ahead.

Yet, some spots didn't clean up enough, it seems, including a couple Bloor and Jane-area diners, a few takeout places by Yonge and Wellesley, and a new spot for shawarma in Riverdale. Here are a few restaurants pegged with conditional passes this week.