The last time I was in Italy it was explained to me that the servers earn a salary from the employer. They do not rely on tips for a living. This is not the same in the U.S. and Canada where servers are paid min wage or even less than that. The vast majority of their income is derived from tips. Some establishments have the tips go into one pot and then divided up by the staff. There are even some employers that will dip into that pot themselves.
So yeah.....
If the hired guns (aka beautiful girls) working in restaurants actually refused to work for minimum wage, the restaurateur would have to pay a higher wage. But, these hired guns will never do that. (Some might say that beauty breeds laziness; but some might say other negative things about beautiful girls.) So we the sheep subsidize their pay.
Now, I don't mind doing that if the service is like Earls restaurants out West. Earls is like Milestones or Moxies, only difference is that all their girls are fuck-worthy! Here is how Earls does it:
1. All the girls that work there are hot af. (Almost considered moving to Winterpeg after experiencing it. Yes seriously.)
2. They wear sexy not trashy outfits.
3. A hot girl will seat you at your table
4. A different hot girl will take your order
5. An even different hot girl will bring your food
6. An even more different girl will ask you how is your meal.
7. While eating random hot girls will clean the bottles at the bar. They have to climb a long ladder to reach the bottles - strategically played very high on shelves near the ceiling. (God, this place is heaven sent!)
And when the bill comes, I definitely think a 20% tip is worth it. Actually, that is a bargain; when compared to the hobgoblins serving at the other restaurants.