The service you get in the US isn't "good service" it's people kissing your ass because they can't afford not to. It's all fake.
In Europe, you get seen when it's your turn and the staff work at a reasonable pace without killing themselves because they have a decent base pay. They don't degrade themselves for tips (I've seen this a lot with waitresses in the US flirting horribly with customers).
There are also significant regional variations in how people interact. And it is more common to stand up & pay on the way out, which solves the frequent American complaint of having to wait forever for the check.
Not sure why you're being downvoted. Having spent 8 months in Europe in the last decade and the rest in the US, one of the first things I notice back home is how nice it is to get decent service at eating establishments.
> That said, I've heard good things about Japan's food service, and they don't require tipping.
Japanese services (in Japan) in general are truly something to behold.
Even as foreigners we've had entire crews of airline and hotel staff getting involved in resolving minor issues, taxi drivers guiding us to destinations on foot, search parties scrambled to find lost items, and government bureaucrats doing things for us way beyond their job descriptions. It's insane.
The food service is similarly attentive.
And no, I'm not a diplomat, celebrity or anybody special.
In Europe, you get seen when it's your turn and the staff work at a reasonable pace without killing themselves because they have a decent base pay. They don't degrade themselves for tips (I've seen this a lot with waitresses in the US flirting horribly with customers).