First of all, to equate what I said to bribery would mean you have to make the assumption that I am tipping higher _in expectation_ of receiving these things. I

First of all, to equate what I said to bribery would mean you have to make the assumption that I am tipping higher _in expectation_ of receiving these things. I don't. Tipping higher provides economic incentive to the server to perform at a higher level for me and whatever guests I bring. And actually it is not bribery, restaurants are alloted to give certain guests freebies to either keep them coming back, or to enhance their experience -- whether it be giving you a free dessert, or other low cost/high yield item off the menu such as side items, or offering you a "unreleased" beverage sample or maybe going out of their way to make a particular item they no longer carry. But besides all of that, I tip higher out of my own virtue, because I worked as a server/bartender for 8 years, so I understand what they go through.