Newcomer to USA

At most restaurants, whenever water is served, by default, glass is full of ice and water is poured in remaining area of glass.

For people like me who has hot/cold sensitive teeth, or generally many people in India are not accustomed to drink water with so much ice in it.

If you want water that has no ice, just say 'No Ice' and don't say 'Without Ice' as it can easily be mistaken as 'With Ice'

At most restaurants, it is customary to tip the server. When you get the check(what is called bill in India), that check has got the suggested tip amounts such as 10%, 15%, 20% etc. If you give about 10%, it should be OK.

Many restaurants serve buffet for lunch. You can eat as much as you can for fixed price. However, for cleanliness and hygeine, you should take new plate every time you get food. You should leave dirty plate on your table and someone will come periodically to collect them.

Also, when you go to dine-in restaurant, you should not immediately occupy the empty seat/table yourself. You should wait near the waiting sign and someone will help seat at the right place depending upon number of people you have in your group. Some restaurants have different sitting sections for smoking and non-smoking persons.

At Indian Restaurants, you can either order 'Thali' or 'A La Carte'. Usually 'A La Carte' is individual vegetable dish with some accessory dishes like rice. In 'Thali', there may be South Indian Thali or North Indian Thali depending upon the place you visit.