Does Anybody Else Find This Amusing or Annoying?

This might be another one of my complementary coffee rants, so watch out!

Where in the world is "You're welcome?"

Restaurants must be training wait staff in innovative ways to communicate with and serve their customers. Or maybe those young whippersnappers have just reached a consensus among themselves that dissing traditional polite talk with niceties like "absolutely" is the cool thing to do...cuz everybody's doing it. I've noticed recently (at more than one restaurant...at least 3, in fact and I can name them, if you like) that wait staff who are eager to please are also eager to let you know this with new and different responses to your requests.

Waitress: Would you like to start off with a cocktail tonight?

Patron: I'll just have a glass of water, please.

Waitress: Absolutely.

Waitress: Is everybody ready to order?

Patron: Yes, please. I'll have the blah blah blah and the blah blah.

Waitress: Absolutely.

Waitress: What side dish would you like with that?

Patron: The steamed vegetables, please.

Waitress: Absolutely.

Waitress: I'll be right back with some bread.

Should we say "absolutely" at this point? Is it our turn to reciprocate? Is this the new way to politely exchange pleasantries? Instead of responding in kind, we just talk about her when she walks away...that's more fun.

...Food is served...meal being enjoyed...

Waitress: Is everything tasting fabulous for you ladies?

...goes away and returns...

Waitress: Is everything still fantastic?

...goes away and returns eventually with the check and high expectations for a nice tip since she's been so fabulously polite...

Okay, first of all...when did "absolutely" become a response for just about every verbal transaction at a restaurant? Secondly, I don't recall mentioning to anyone that my food was either fabulous or fantastic, but it seems to be a new trend for wait staff everywhere to communicate in this manner and at least try to convince you that what's on your plate is either fabulous or fantastic with a preemptive "Is everything tasting fabulous?" approach.

Again, I can name the restaurants where I've experienced this, if you like. That way you can check it out for yourself and get back to me with your impressions.