It's not something I'm in the habit of doing, being more of the mindset that an empty plate is a compliment already... However, I was recently (in an Italian restaurant on Guernsey) moved to ask the waitress to thank the chef, as the food was just that good (a perfectly simple dish, at that).

Is this something people here do at all? Often? Never? I've only really ever seen it on the telly, or half in jest...