@Simon: No, these aren't rules established here. Many restaurants have menus and many do let you wait inside. The problem is, as I said, establishments (especially chains) cheaping out because they want less staff to do more tables. Again, if you don't want to clean menus, just print a piece of paper on your office printer for those that don't want to figure out how to use the app, it's late, I've been on my phone all day because of work, my battery is dead, now I need to pass around my wife's phone, what do the kids want, pass around a phone to them?
The waitress doesn't have to come around to give you menus or ask for drinks or give you the check, because they expect you to do it on their app/website that then tracks you and pushes advertising. To me that's less service, because I might as well do takeout then. I'm not going to tip more than the 18% if the waiter isn't allowed or won't come to my table, I also won't go back there.
Same with waiting outside, stand up for your customers, don't let someone, who doesn't have kids (you know the type) push you around because they look rich and say they're well connected.
I generally tip 20-30% or more (I've even tipped well over 100% on a $120 dinner), partially because I can (I can deduct expenses on my taxes) and partially I do think it's well earned. But especially chain restaurants are having their waiters come around only twice or three times to your table in an hour, glass empty, plates empty, "just use the app if you want service" - fuck that - don't work there because a lot of people won't go there anymore and then they'll be surprised when they go out of business. Local restaurants are a lot better.
