It is indeed weird if not uncomfortable.

There's been an interesting move by Danny Meyer and Tom Colochio two well-known and very successful restaurateurs in New York City to abolish tips in favor of a flat service charge to be shared amongst everyone in the restaurant.

Danny Meyer talks about the history of tipping in the US in which he claims is rooted in post-Civil War racism and the old Pullman cars.

http://www.businessinsider.com/tipping-is-a-hoax-born-out-of...

Here is a link to the podcast:

http://www.sporkful.com/the-restaurateur-who-got-rid-of-tipp...

Interestingly enough the practice seems to have originated in Europe however before dying out:

https://www.fordfoundation.org/ideas/equals-change-blog/post...