Tipping etiquette for waiters

The wife and I went out to dinner the other evening to celebrate her birthday at a well-known French restaurant in our area. We arrived exactly on time and were seated promptly.

After a couple of appetite-stimulating cocktails, we ordered an appetizer, wine and dinner. The food was excellent, the wine sublime and the service responsive and attentive.

Everything was top notch until the waitperson presented the bill (not cheap!) and I produced cash with which to pay.

The whole experience was greatly diminished when the server then asked whether I needed change. Let’s see. The check was for about...