While it seems clear to me that you are referring to yourself here (since you were the first to say “specifical”), I am just pointing this out in case others think you might be directing this at those who have used the word subsequently.
We don’t have that kind of thing in NY either. As best as I can determine she might have thought you were trying to skip out on tipping waitstaff by servicing yourself and still using their table space instead of take out or sitting at the counter but there isn’t a “charge” to sit in the restaurant.
Yeah I admit, the whole situation was a bit confusing, and she wouldn’t let me explain myself. Plus I’d just arrived in the US, so was a bit disorientated.