Maybe it only happens in Houston. Ive been out to eat plenty of times and I live in New Jersey, and I have never encountered a problem like that. I usually try to tip generally 20% at the very least, waiters and waitresses only make like $3.00 an hour so their main salary comes from tips. As long as the server keeps up with the soda refills im pretty satisfied. One time though I was at a diner and had the most obnoxious waitress, she had the worse attitude and I tried to ask a simple question and got a smart a** response. I was with another friend and the bill was probably like $30-40, but because she was so arrogant I left her a $2 bill that I got from change at a store.