Unfortunately, the hostess was different than the waiter. In the end, I had to tip the waiter. Since the food was quite good, and since I would be back, I shoved along 20% as insurance that my food won't have spit in it the next time I am back.

Good on you! I myself usually don't have the cojones to insist on a different table. Yes, I'm polite to a fault. Living in the big city however, I'm forcing myself to be rude... err assertive... as needed.

As irrational as it seems, in the past I've chalked up my unexplainably rude experiences at restaurants to my age or to my race. As I've gotten older (and it is showing), the former has been less of an excuse. I've also come to realize that many times people aren't racist, they're just @ssholes.