Before we tell this week's restaurant story...

...Let's address today's Q & A question. Mary from Schenectady writes: "The gab during our last girl's night out had to do with tipping. A number of my girlfriends feel the standard these days has risen to twenty- not fifteen- percent. What's the story?"

Well, I don't recall receiving that memo, for one thing Mary. Secondly, any cost-of-living-based arguments for the increase really don't add up: As the costs of restaurant food and drink continue to rise, so do the commissions. Fifteen percent is service's slice of the pie, period. Anything more is icing on the cake, to be swirled on at your discretion.