For bigger tips, servers in restaurants should follow these guidelines from the New York Times via The Savvy Boomer…
Examples:
7. Do not announce your name. No jokes, no flirting, no cuteness.
8. Do not interrupt a conversation. For any reason. (emphasis mine) Especially not to recite specials. Wait for the right moment.
14. When you ask, “How’s everything?” or “How was the meal?” listen to the answer and fix whatever is not right.
17. Do not take an empty plate from one guest while others are still eating the same course. Wait, wait, wait.

There are other tips that folks in the big city should expect but here in Smallburg happen so infrequently, that I’ll give them a pass.

But even Smallburg restaurants should train, train, train staff:

• Greet both people when entering the restaurant, not just the woman. Sure, she’s the boss, but give the support staff a moment in the sun too.
• Servers waiting for customers should make an attempt to look as if they are happy, not like the SS outside Dachau.
• Servers waiting for customers should not be flirting and cracking jokes with other servers. Servers having a great time until a customer walks up is kinda bassackwards.
• Everytime you pass the table is not an invitation to blurt something our direction. Use your eyes before your mouth.

And of course, can’t be a post about eating at a restaurant without my little rant about music/televisions blaring. Unless you are a sports bar where televisions are mandatory, or a restaurant with live music, just skip it mmmmmkay? Like the restaurant in downtown Boston with an Irish theme playing country/western because the bartender liked it! (#32)