The full title is "Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter." It’s on BonAppetit’s list of the top books of the year. Is it worth trying to find? Sounds as though it might be fun, in a trashy... (12 replies, last updated by Glencora July 2, 2008)

I recently picked up the book, "Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter" and am about halfway through it. Here’s the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Service-Included-Four-Star-Secrets-Eavesdropping... (4 replies, last updated by onocoffee March 11, 2008)

between us for the meal. BTW, service and food were excellent. End of meal, waiter brings over two checks. First is showing what management is picking up. Second, is what we owe. Nearly $100 for the four glasses of wine. Now, I was... (57 replies, last updated by jen kalb June 18, 2002)

of service and we did factor in the reduced price at dinner, even though it was more than what the waiter would have gotten for the same order at lunch time, since it was a lunch-sized portion and price. (132 replies, last updated by broncosaurus January 7, 2008)

I have never beena waiter, but I have noticed more and more that menus state that gratuity is included for parties over six. I seem to remember when this policy was for parties of eight or more, but now it’s for six.... (72 replies, last updated by jfood April 4, 2009)

't quite work. She’s a good writer, but I was anxious to get done with it – and it’s not a long book. It’s getting mixed reviews on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/... (3 replies, last updated by snoballz November 25, 2007)

I know it’s not on your list, and granted, I haven’t actually been to any of the four on said list, but why not Chez Panisse? (Just to make your choice more difficult.) But hey, maybe you want to get out of the East... (10 replies, last updated by Poot May 21, 2004)

seats at a table in the center of the room. (Tables along the wall have menus on them and are reserved for waiter service.) When you’re done, take your ticket to the cashier in front. It’s cash only. Note: For the purposes... (46 replies, last updated by texann March 28, 2007)

Last night I received a bill that had a 20% service fee. I asked the waiter about this and they said that it is the gratuity. There was just two of us, I do see it included on large tables. Can they do that? What happens if we... (43 replies, last updated by egit February 21, 2008)

Nice report! Sorry Daniel wasn’t five stars for you. I can definitely understand how you feel, especially if you had a waiter who was slightly rude. I don’t think I’ve encountered one service problem there. And... (11 replies, last updated by biondanonima May 14, 2008)

this carefully choreographed maneuver from waiter Todd Goodrich, who worked until recently at Manhattan’s Town restaurant. Mr. Goodrich says he’d bring two bottles of water for a table of four, filling all of the... (9 replies, last updated by pete wells April 2, 2002)

but a question, if it eats 350 a person, if you go until you get full if you’re a heavy eater/trendcherman like me then the bill would be more like 500 not including tax or tip, correct or am i sorely wrong? (16 replies, last updated by NYCFoodie January 18, 2005)

Twenty-five years ago we had a great meal and wonderful service at Lutèce in New York. At the end I was distracted by something as I calculated the tip and left much less than what I intended. When we left 10-15 minutes later,... (174 replies, last updated by scubadoo97 November 14, 2009)

. True, this is Los Angeles, where waiters are paid $7 per hour. I find it weird that NY pays so very little to servers. BTW, in London, where I lived years ago, service sucked hard in many restaurants, I’m convinced... (70 replies, last updated by hotoynoodle June 1, 2007)

, this is our society’s system for paying waiters. They are dependent on those tips for a substantial portion of their income. In my book, the only excuse to stiff a waiter is poor service resulting from his (or her) poor... (21 replies, last updated by Matt September 5, 2001)