What are restuarants like in Japan?

Question

I've always wanted to know. I did some research, but I don't know alot. Are they like American restuarants as in structure? And the waiters, do they introduce themselves and are they friendly with thier customers? Or do they consider that impolite? What do they call thier customers, -sama, -san?

What i know:

Some resturants use slippers

Waiters don't get tips

You pay the bill at the end

You get a towel in the beginning (idk why)

You get an appitizer in the beginning included in the bill

Answer 1

you don't wear shoes

Answer 2

they use a lot of oils!

Answer 3

In general, waiters do not introduce themselves. I think only expensive, rich restaurants do that in Japan. And I think waiter's system is not originated in Japan, it's imported (we call them "ueitaa"=waiter) so Japanese restaurants do not but other western restaurants like French, American etc in Japan might do the same way as in America. So if waiter introduce himself and friendly talked to customers at ordinary restaurants, customers might  feel it strange.

Waiters call customers -sama in general.

Towels (Oshibori) are used to wash their hands before eating.