again, the US way of tipping everything and everyone is just the wrong approach.

pay your service guys a minimum amount per hour so they can survive without
having to ask for tips .

ITS the system which is wrong and not the attitude of the NON-US citizens.

US posters here always pull the EL-Cheapo card, but why should we non-US citizens pay for your NON-Existend Social System ???

anyway, i would not have blocked a table only for drinks.
i would have ordered a salad , and something to eat.

about the tip, even for me 1USD and blocking the table sounds a bit cheap.

4 pax, 25USD bill, i would have left 10USD total in tips.

i wouldnt mind 40% tip in a situation like this, but i think that 10-15% tip is ok if you have a 500 USD bill in a restaurant.
well my friends in the US always tip 25% ,,, but i think thats a bit too much usually..

dp