Having Bad Service at Restaurants

Waiters and waitresses probably have one of the worst jobs on the planet. They have to deal with us!
I've never worked as a waitress so I can't speak from that point of view but I have been a customer so I'm speaking from that point of view.

My husband and I were at Cracker Barrel the other night having dinner. The restaurant was sparsely populated so we must have gone in either before the mad rush or right after it. Once we were seated it took about 15 minutes before our waitress came over to get our drink order. She was very friendly (which is always a good thing) but blatantly over-doing it.

When she brought our drinks she asked us if we were ready to order to which we replied, "yes."
So instead of asking us what we wanted ~ she started a conversation (on the mild winter we were having so far.) My husband and I looked at each other bewildered but let her babble on as we politely smiled. Once she finished her conversation she took our order and walked away to other tables. 

We paid attention to her as she went on to her other tables neglecting the customers who had already asked her for drink refills, ketchup, A-1 steak sauce, more corn muffins, etc. She stood and talked with new customers for what we considered was way to long all the while neglecting the needs of her existing customers.
Okay, maybe she was new or having a bad day or something but it didn't seem like that was the case. In the eyes of all who saw her, not just us, it looked as if her major flaw was the fact that she loved to talk and wouldn't shut up long enough to pay attention to the needs of her customers!

By the time our food came to the table (and another waitress ended up having to bring it) it was getting cold and dry (especially the soup beans.) Without complaining, we ate it but we were not happy. On top of that not one time did our waitress bring us a drink refill. We had to stop other waitresses to ask for refills. I don't usually drink a lot with my meal but my husband does and if you don't keep his drink's refilled...he let's you know by the tip (or lack thereof) he leaves.

Finally, as we were paying our bill and leaving we heard several other customers in front of us in line asking to speak to the manager.
We didn't want to get this waitress into trouble but we did feel as though she needed to get some additional training. She needs to learn to pay more attention to the needs of her customers instead of trying to be so "phoney-friendly" because without customers...you have no business.