...when I was waiting tables. You aren't there to be the customer's buddy, they don't care who you are, they are paying for service that's as close to perfect as you can manage. Waiters should strive to be as invisible as they can. It's what I expect when I eat out, too. There's nothing more obnoxious than a chatty waiter. In fact, the more interruptions from waitstaff while I'm eating, the lower the tip drops.