How do I speak to the staff?

Waiters and waitresses are not servants. In America they are often professionals who do their jobs with expertise and pride, and the guest should not omit “please” and “thank you” when ordering and receiving service. One should say, “Thank you,” even when someone comes to your table to fill your water glasses. This is a major difference from Japan, where many servers are part–time workers who are generally ignored by guests or spoken to rather cursorily at best.