justjim: you are stepping on sacred ground here:D

Chicken or the egg ? Remember when restaurants had hat racks ?

Times sure have changed. I was taught to remove my hat when entering a building and always when eating at the table. Same as opening a door for the ladies.

I'd rather see a cell phone than a waiter carrying a silver tray with a phone on it, dragging the cord around the tables.
Anyway, after it rings, it's just another conversation.
Aren't you REALLY annoyed at them, because it's harder to eavesdrop?
Dogs are a safety/cleanliness issue.
As for the hat issue, be glad you're on the east coast where people keep their hats on in restaurants.
You could be in California where people want to take their pants off in restaurants...
Luckily, chickens and eggs are BOTH appropriate restaurant fare!

I, personally, don't like to see men wearing hats in restaurants. However, after a day of golf or some form of exercise, people should feel free to cover their unruly locks. On the same note, I can't seem to criticize men wearing hats in restaurants when I, as a woman, enjoy wearing hats, especially cowboy hats. For women, it's part of the outfit.
We taught our son to take off his hat when he eats at a restaurant. He then asked me why I didn't take my hat off. How do you answer that?

Should I Take My Hat Off at a Restaurant? - Chowhound

I like this article about wearing hats in restaurants. I usually wear a baseball cap in places like RJ Gators but take it off at Bonefish Grill. It is needed because I do not like showing off my big bald spot. And I do longer have enough hair to even try a feasible comb over.

My opinion is ... it's not important to me .... I'm not my brother's keeper. :ho:

How about really bad comb overs? Which kind of look like the man has a lobster on his head?

A Gallery Of Ridiculously Bad Comb Overs (19 Pics) - Ned Hardy | Ned Hardy

mine too. My dad wore what he called a "kopf cover" which is a blend of German "kopf" (head) and English "cover" for a hat. He wore all the time but my mom forbade me form wearing a hat at the table. And you did what she said!

I'm a New Yorker
 

I always take off my hat when sitting down to a meal

I see a compromise here - men remove your hats when ladies stop bathing in perfume.

You must be very young. I remember hat check girls.

This offense pales compared to ladies wearing white shoes after Labor Day. Times change. Customs evolve. When I want to be culturally enhanced, I'll eat some yogurt.

I think I remember Tony Soprano and Artie Bucco having difficulty with a young man wearing a hat in a restaurant. Youtube-The Sopranos. Take Your Hat Off. Check it out.

This must be nothing else to complain about Monday.