Try tipping the bartender up front if you are in a crowded bar with a lot of people waiting.   No one likes to wait, so let them know that you reward good service.  This will also help them to pick you out of the crowd later and remember what you are drinking.   If you do spend time at the bar waiting for your table, remember to tip your bartender.  Often his part of the total tip that you leave at the table might not get back to him.

Look around at what others are eating while you are walking to your table.  You'll get a better idea of what you might want and also show you the size of the portions that you can expect.

Ask the waiter's advice regarding what the most popular entrees are or the specialties of the house.

Always consult the dessert section before ordering your main meal.  Check before you give the waiter the menu back.  You may see a dessert that really appeals to you and decide on a dinner salad or smaller entree in order to leave some room for it.

Ask questions.  The waiter should be able to tell you about  certain spices or whether you can get your steak cooked to order.  Don't feel that you are being difficult.  The waiter would prefer to deal with questions ahead of time, rather than have to return food that wasn’t what you wanted or expected.

If you have any food allergies, always remember to ask about ingredients and preparations.

Don't feel guilty if you must make special requests, substitutions or preparation of the meal.  You are the customer and your waiter is there to help.  He'll probably realize that the better the dining experience, the better the tip.

Don’t punish the waiter.  He can only adhere to the restaurant's policies and might not be able to change everything to your liking.  Often, restaurants will not serve rare or uncooked meat.  Some refuse to cook it "well done".  Restaurant have these policies due to health concerns or the worry of "ruining" prime meat. The waiter simply may not be able to challenge the restaurant's policy.