DH and I are locals and do this all the time, we make sure we take care of the server...
We like to sit at the bar, and have an appetizer and drink or adult beverage to go along with it... the bartenders are happy when you order food, it ups their ticket price, thus the tip, if we sit at a table we tell the server, we are going to order some app's, possibly dessert and a few cocktails.. ... we will take good care of you... and follow through with a nice tip, sometimes I think that the server doesn't mind a table ordering some app's and sitting it gives them a chance to catch up, and then the still make a full tip on a table...