Your ideal and my ideal are very different. My ideal restaurant scenario has me walking in and being recognized by the maitre'd/greeter who says "hey, kleinbl00! Welcome back!" at which point they guide me to my usual table where I'm recognized by one of the two or three wait staff I encounter regularly who ask me how I've been. They tell me what the specials are, but only the ones they actually like because honestly, the salmon cakes haven't been getting rave reviews. They keep my drink topped up and they bring me extra ketchup because it's easier for both of us and then they bring my check early because they know I like to get it out of the way before my guest really knows what's up and then linger over the table."

How-the-fuck-come does it seem like randoms on the damn internet can get this simple fact of how an eatery works, but not people running the damn place? I've changed restaurants because the waitstaff left for a new establishment. Building a rapport with the people who serve you is a great way to try new things and expand your pallet. If I saw ipads on the tables I would assume that they want to treat me as a commodity and not a customer. Or, I was at an Applebees.