@filmfann FREE tip…when choosing where to sit, go for the “more mature” waitresses!!! The younger ones think all their job is, is just making sure to sit a plate in front of you. They don’t care if it’s your plate or if the correct order is on it. They also don’t believe in refilling your drink. They don’t care that you want any condiment. They do NOT believe in customer service!!! They don’t make minimum wage & they don’t make good tips due to their lack of attention, so working is a waste of time in their book because they make lousy money!!! Shoot for wait staff that’s 40 & over…actually, you can probably get away with 30 & over. Most of the wait staff under 30 thinks you owe them a tip just because they showed up for work that day & they looked at you.
Part of the problem is the restaurants themselves. They don’t appreciate the value of their wait staff & they’ll hire any warm body walking in the door. Although it looks easy, waitressing is a HARD job & NOT just anybody is suited for it!!!
My fave restaurant was smart, when the government closed down inside seating during the pandemic & said drive thru only, they brought in ALL their wait staff & cooks They became a drive thru with customers calling in their orders & the wait staff running the orders to the cars. The waitresses still received their tips & the kitchen staff got a paycheck every week. Once allowed to have inside seating once again, they had lost NO customers & they lost NONE of their wait staff nor their kitchen staff.
Now to answer your Q, I see it as the Golden Age of Growing Pains!!!