The best waiter I ever had was in some joint in Spokane, Washington. Funny, I had just come from NYC which has some of the finest waiters anywhere on the globe and this guy in Spokane just blew away everyone I had seen - perfect knowledge of the food and wine, perfect timing, just the right level of friendliness, and then he went to the store down the street to get us berries for a dessert which wasn't on the menu. If I had known what it meant to order the berries I would have pulled my order, he only mentioned it after we thanked him and complimented the quality of the berries when they arrived. He earned a rather generous tip that night. It was a memorable day all around. On the way home we could see where the tornados had torn across the highway while we were dining - a wide expanse of missing brush and dirt, almost like a road which crossed the highway and extended into the distance from both sides of the highway.

Years ago some friends and I were vacationing in Bucksport, Maine. We arrived late to our campsite, and inquired about nearby dining. (This was on a Sunday evening) They gave us a recommendation, and we called them. Turns out they were closing up for the night, but were willing to stay open for us. The four of us went over right away. They were the nicest people you'd ever want to meet, and I still remember what I ate...Fettucine Alfredo with Lobster tails. Big pieces of lobster tails. We also left a generous tip. What a terrific bunch of people. I only wish I could remember the name of the restaurant.