"I’ve heard the arguments, that one shouldn’t have to pay extra for someone to do their job, and you’re right. But with that mentality, that’s all you’re going to get: someone doing their job." I can see precisely where you are coming from and I respect your point. However, I must disagree: How do we define the role of waitstaff in a restaurant? Are they there to simply bring food or to help enhance your dining experience? If they are simply there to give you the food, then fine, they should drop the steak on the table and walk off. No questions asked, no service expected: take the order, deliver the order and bring the bill. Bam. If however, they are there to improve your experience and thereby encourage you to return, then they need to consider how they present themselves and the restaurant. Making the dining experience a better one encourages diners to return and improves the staff's chances of promotion or being poached by a better restaurant. I have always viewed the waitstaff as essential to a good meal - there's a reason I keep returning to certain restaurants and cafes, and several good reasons why others get the cold shoulder. Their job is to make the diners happy - within reasonable limits. To suggest otherwise is a cold and empty experience devoid of charm. If a waiter goes above and beyond the call of duty - going to a buffet for someone with mobility problems and making sure the chef gives them the best of everything, taking five minutes to entertain a small child who has taken a shine to them or taking a look at the reserved table and saying "No, that won't do at all, we can find you something better" ... then and only then would they earn themselves a tip. But honestly speaking, I feel tipping cash is a bit tacky, so I will give them a gift later or mention to the boss that "Bob" went above and beyond today. That all being said, there is something about the attitude of Shanghai diners (both local and expatriate) that doesn't exactly elicit good service. Expatriates in Chinese restaurants need to accept a certain level of fear and wonderment from the Chinese staff (pointing at and discussing people loudly is unacceptable, however) and locals need to accept that foreign-oriented restaurants are not necessarily suited to their specific tastes and need to accept that they are eating non-Chinese food. As always, a smile as you walk into the restaurant is always a good start -from clients and staff alike.

If in doubt with this topic then watch Reservoir Dogs again. If still in doubt then watch Reservoir Dogs again

"How to Get Great Customer Service in Shangahi Restaurants" .... Shangahi? For a publication with so many 'editors', very little editing seems to actually happen.

I see the manic CW memory holer has been in action - but as a note to the 'editors', please bear in mind that just because its easy to change the soft version DOES NOT validate the number of glaring mistakes you let through. You can remove without an erratum, sure - but we saw, and we remember, and you're getting worse.