I'm not sure about the terms "waiter" and "waitress", but more than likely that is the case...

it certainly is the case in France... where it used to be the thing to call the waiter "garçon"...

now you will probably get punched or something by the waiter... instead it is now "serveur"...

--i think it is because of the fact that "garçon" is translated to the word "boy"... and means just that... so when you are in a restaurant, and you ask for the waiter...its bad to call him "garçon"...

a useful tidbit to know if you ever go to France, or eat in a French restaurant--there or here...

--hehe, now to go to a restaurant and call for the garçon...

hey, just because i have that knowledge--doesn't mean they all need to be aware that i know it...