🚀 go-pugleaf

  KB> From: kbass@clark.net (Ken Bass)

  KB> Why? The waiter is not the customer! Mr. Nader was the customer. He
  KB> was looking out for all of us who have to put up with crummy service.

And in fact, Cafe Luna isn't a place I'd go to, based on the anecdote.  If all
the waiters there are bad-mouthing their customers behind their back, griping
about people who eat there, no wonder the service has such a rotten
reputation.


  KB> One thing I find is that those are the people who believe waiters
  KB> should get 15-20% automatically regards of service.

Personal scale (go ahead, folks, flame away):

   10% for "I get food, but I don't have fun at the restaurant"

   15% for "It all happens without my having to make a big effort"

   20% for "Major extra effort was expended /gracefully/ on my behalf,
            and/or one or more children shared my meal with me and left
            the dining area somewhat less tidy than it was when we sat."

That word "gracefully" is a big one.  Some whining Cafe Luna waiter who makes
me /work/ to get his attention is going to get smaller tips than someone at a
better restaurant who (as you mention) brings me the refills without my having
to make any effort at all.

PS: the 20% reference to "one or more children" is only if they're MY kids.