I really appreciate Rob's input on this thread!

I also wanted to share my experiences working in restaurants in the US. Your tip does not always just go to your waitstaff. As a waitress, I "tipped out" (gave a percentage of my tips) to my bartenders, bus staff and food runners. There was a required minimum for each of those individuals, although it made sense to tip out appropriately to ensure that your drinks were always ready when you needed them, etc.