Hawaii diners are among the stingiest tippers in 45 metropolitan and other areas surveyed by restaurant guide publisher Zagats.

However, Hawaii's average tip of 18.4 percent, which tied Seattle for the lowest in the survey, was just fractionally behind the top tipping markets of St. Louis and Philadelphia where the average gratuity was 19.6 percent, according to the survey of 145,000 diners, Zagats said. That works out to a $9.20 average tip on a $50 restaurant tab in Hawaii versus $9.80 tip left by diners in St. Louis and Philadelphia

The findings were among the results of the Zagat's 2010 America's Top Restaurants survey that were released this week on the company's Web site.

It also found that the number of people dining out had declined and that people said they are eating less.

The report also identified the top five restaurants in each locale. In Hawaii, Alan Wong's took the top spot, followed by Sushi Sasabune, La Mer, Le Bistro and Nobu Waikiki.

Additionally, Zagat's named Scotty's BBQ as the top barbecue restaurant here, with Duane Ono's taking top honors in the "burgers" category. Brick Oven was voted the best pizza, while Kirin was named best for Chinese cuisine. Mekong Thai ranked first for Thai food.

The report also found:

• Hawaii respondents indicated they ate 50 percent of their meals at restaurants or from take-out orders. That compared with 48 percent nationally.

• People here (77 percent) are more irritated about poor service than folks are nationally (68 percent).

• Hawaii respondents ate 3.2 restaurant meals a week, spending an average of $33.18 per meal. That compared with the 3.2 meal average and the $34.62 check average nationally.

• Only 4 percent of people here make reservations over the Internet. That compared with one out of five diners going online for reservations nationally.

• About two-thirds of Zagats' survey takers here favored banning transfats at restaurants.