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Juju, when you and Kathy go to the Sizzler, who's the one person at the restaurant that is most memorable later on? The server, right?
The server is an actor, the front line, the representative of the restaurant. The initial contact between server and diner can sometimes make or break future visits to said restaurant. And I don't know about you, but it ain't easy to carry a large tray of hot dishes, while trying to avoid bumping into others, having others bump into you, or dealing with a slick kitchen floor. And if you're a woman, it's that much worse, b/c you have to deal with sexual harrassment. (And yeah, I know it happens to guys too, but in my experience, it happens more to the ladies.)
In some restaurants, cooks actually get a cut of the server's tips. In general though, cooks get paid pretty well, especially if they have formal training.
Blowmee, the idea is interesting...now that I reread it 32 times and understand it. (I'm a little slow.) But then the restaurant owners would bitch about having to install something like that, and jack prices up worse than a gratuity.
In general, I tip in the neighborhood of 20-25%...sometimes higher, sometimes lower. Sadly, I haven't received very good service at places I've been to recently. Rho and I went to Chi-Chi's about a month ago. It was Super Bowl Sunday, about 8:30 or so in the evening. There was almost no one else in the restaurant, and trying to get this waitress's attention to get a tea refill was like pulling teeth. I think I left 10 or so percent.
Back in my PR days (that's pre-Rho), I would try to be all smooth and shit. If I was getting good service by a cute waitress, when I signed the bill, I would leave my phone number under my signature (even though it was unrequired). Never got a call though...*snaps his fingers*
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