by Vincent LeVine

Created on: November 07, 2009   Last Updated: November 08, 2009

DINNER OUT and A HAPPY ENDING?

I was told when I was old enough to eat at restaurants myself that the proper tip for a waiter/waitress who performs his or her duties was 15%... I was also told that a tip's origin dates back to when someone wanted to insure proper service they would tip before the meal. I believe now, any money that exchanges hands prior to dining involves a maitre d' and seating and that usually takes place in pricey establishments I don't frequent.

The custom today, as I understand it, rewards hard-working servers, after the meal, which appears to be a safer way to go. Serve me my meal without a hitch and a 15% gratuity is yours! I have no problem with that.

My family does not eat out very much, but when we do the one who appreciates it the most is my wife, the mother of my three boys. She normally cooks, serves, and cleans after family meals.

On Saturday night we decided to go to our favorite Chinese restaurant with our youngest son. We waited 20 minutes before being seated. We're OK with that; it's our favorite restaurant, 20 minutes is nothing. Once seated, our waiter poured water and was ready to take our order almost immediately. After a short wait, our appetizers arrived. We waited an unusually long period of time between the appetizers and the meal. There was a definite festive lull that included fidgeting and looking around for our waiter. All three of us stretched our necks hoping to spot him. And when we did locate him, we hoped that the tray he was carrying contained our meal. It didn't.

Pork fried rice, lobster sauce, and sesame chicken are not special order. We began to question the service. Our water glasses were dry and we grew thirsty and impatient. Finally, a dinner out and we were being ignored by our waiter!

When our food finally arrived we were relieved. A different restaurant employee filled our glasses with water and order to our restaurant universe had been restored!

The food was predictably as good as it gets. Now it was time to measure the waiter's true medal- how quickly would he see that we had stopped eating and were finished? At that point in the meal, when you know you're done and waiting for the bill, no one moves, you remain still and a safe distance from utensils and plates. You don't sip water or go near the food even to pick at it, you sit back and everyone's posture says I'm done! We choreographed our exit perfectly. One look at us and you knew-we were done.

At this juncture there is no wiggle room

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