I think I know what youre speaking of, my recollection growing up in the 90s was that the bill at a restaurant would always arrive on a tray, and then any change, mints, customer receipt, change would be returned on the same tray after payment was made.

Now with debit cards (interac, not mastercard) being the norm its standard to get the bill and then have them bring over a wireless debit machine (and has been that way for at least 10+ years)