One evening about three, four or five years ago
my girls and I waited over a half hour to be called to a table in a busy medium priced restaurant. We had spent the day at Busch Gardens in Tampa and were starving, exhausted and it was the most decent place we could find close by for seafood.
The drink order was taken shortly after we were seated by a waitress who was obviously busy, but for some reason very nasty to my daughters (they were maybe 10 and 11 at the time). It took about 15 minutes until their drinks were brought, at which time the waitress informed me they were frosting my mug since the beer wasn't quite cold, and she then took our dinner orders. A couple of times, I caught her eye and she kept throwing up her pointer, indicating I should wait a minute. After another maybe 45 minutes of enjoying talking with the kids and trying to test my own patience, seeing others who were seated in her area after us already eating, I got up and spoke with the Maitre D'. I told him what happened and that I'd really feel more comfortable eating away from her station. He apologized for her behavior and said he could give me a table if I could wait another 5 or 10 minutes.
True to his word, we had a much more comfortable booth with ice cold beer served to me as we sat down. The food we had ordered (at this point probably over an hour previous) was served to us within another five minutes. We had a wonderful waiter that made the girls laugh, got me over my anger and made sure we had what we needed.
When the check was placed on the table, I was thinking how to tell the Maitre D' to be sure the other waitress didn't get a penny of the tip. When I looked at the check, all the entrees, desserts and drinks were listed, with prices, totalled, taxed and then zeroed out, courtesy.
I gave the full amount of the bill (charges) as tip for the waiter and Maitre D' for making a hellacious experience into a wonderful one, and for doing the right thing.
I will never forget that experience. I saw the suckiest service and I saw one of the best. When you feel they've gone above and beyond, even to make up for a crappy experience, I think they deserve whatever you can give them.
Atmosphere is crucial to a dining experience. It doesn't have to be snazzy decor; even a dive with good food and service has its own atmosphere. The server is a huge part in how you feel when you sit your ass down in an eating establishment. I don't care how pretty or expensive your place is. Give me good food, good service, lighting conducive to conversation and whatever I have is yours.
If you don't want to tip for good service, then get it "to go".