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@emisara, they do in wa. too & we have the highest minimum wage in the country!

I thought I addressed the quotation mark issue in the first paragraph, no? I guess the public disagrees with my assessment :)

I think gtrine hits the nail on the head.

I agree that a tip is to be a reflection of the quality of service and NOT a mandatory percentage of the check total. This is the only incentive that I can see for the server to give a table great attention and service. Having been a server for many years now, I totally expect my tip to be based upon the attention I give the table. Only with a very few exceptions, I have found that tables give me a tip that does reflect this. I have received $10 tips for a $7 lunch tab. I also have received a $3 tip for a $40 tab -- and rightfully so as I was less attentative that I should have been -- yes, I had the reasons why, but that does not matter to the table and is not their problem to understand. If you want to save money and that is the ONLY reason for not giving a reasonable tip, then shame on you for not rewarding your server for a job well done. If however, the service was poor, then let the tip reflect that. But, if you received wonderful service, given with a great attitude, then pay the few bucks extra and don't buy that fancy cheese at the grocery -- it will save you the corresponding couple of dollars to even out what was spent on a well deservied tip.

@mh330- These women were acting self-invovled and important. It doesn't take two hours to finish a piece of cake and one glass of wine. If they wanted to relax and lounge and talk for hours I'm sure there are many places in the city for them to do just that (and I don't mean McD's --how about those thousands of bars, lounges, coffee shops, etc.) HH's restaurant in not such a place. Busy restaurants make money by turning tables; that's how it works. It's kind of like the grocery express lane rule. It's there for people to get along quicky and if someone takes their full cart to that line, it fucks up the whole system and is unfair.

I completely disagree, blondee47. I've worked as a waitress maybe 2 months of my entire life, but I don't think that is the answer at all. I am a great tipper, seeing as most of my friends and my fiance have spent a LOT of time in the restaurant industry, and I don't mind, not even in these times. It is part of going out, to expect to pay a tip. If restaurants had to pay their servers more, especially in this economy, you would see a lot of you favorite independent restaurants go out of business, and be left with chain restaurants and fast food places.

i think in this era of recession, that restaurants who want our business pay their servers a little more and take the price off the patrons so that we can go out and enjoy ourselves without the worry of 20 percent added onto the tab + tax...the restauranteur should shoulder some of the cost instead of the patron paying all profits. if a restaurant can cut costs like craftsteak as an example, then imagine the actual profits being made, like a store having a 50% sale....except we don't have to pay the saleshelp a tip for the sale she just made.

@ematson--two people sharing ONE glass of wine and ONE piece of cake for TWO hours in a tiny restaurant with several people waiting for seats is just wrong. It's like going to the French Laundry and only ordering tea. It's like going to the ER for stitches and then asking the busy ER doc for a diet plan. I understand what you're saying about the women being just as entitled as anyone to a table but: Two hours to share a snack? Please.

@Cassandra--I agree that servers should get at least min. wage but that would never happen. The increase in labor cost would mean doom for many places, especially now. But I can also see what...

willworkforfoodie is saying about servers making plenty of money. I'm a pro cook and I make a little over $100 a shift while the servers at my place might walk with $150 cash in their pocket on top of their wage. That being said, I fully believe servers earn that money. Unskilled? Are you f'ing kidding me? Have you ever been a server? It's not a skill like welding is a skill or accounting is a skill; it's entirely different and much more nuanced. Graciously dealing with the hunrgy, rude and impatient masses with a smile on your face is very difficult. And to do it well is goddamn saintly.

Regarding the two ladies sharing a glass of wine and a desert, maybe I'm reading it wrong but I don't see anything wrong with calling them out. Economy notwithstanding it is horribly rude to show up to a super crowded spot, lie to the host(ess) about your intentions, camp out at a valuable table for two hours, order basically nothing, and then tip poorly on top of it. You want to share a glass and a desert and linger for a bit AFTER eating a full meal? Fine (to an extent). I am sympathetic to the desire to get out and about even if you can't afford it, but recognize the economic impact on the establishment and, at the very least, take it to the bar.

Slow poached, massaged octopus. So tender. Wow.

a tie between mochi and mochi

tempura udon

does the dynamite from Ave A Sushi count as Japanese?

Baked Mochi. It's best when it is a little bit warm but fine at room temperature as well.