Navigating the tipping etiquette in American restaurants can be a perplexing task, especially for those dining for the first time.
To ease this confusion, many restaurants have started including suggested tip amounts on their bills.
However, there are always those patrons who, for one reason or another, disregard these suggestions and tip as they please.
But every now and then, a group of diners will do something unexpected.
One waiter had such an experience.
He was serving a group of teenagers who had decided to have a meal before heading off to their homecoming dance.
The waiter, reminiscing about his own teenage years and homecoming dances, went out of his way to ensure the teenagers had a memorable dining experience before their big event.
Once the teenagers had finished their meal, they requested separate bills, which the waiter happily provided.
They paid in cash, their faces beaming with joy as they left the restaurant.
The waiter, too, was in high spirits.
He fondly recalled his own youth as he counted the tip they had left.
His smile, however, faded when he discovered that the group had left a tip of $3.28.
In the United States, it’s common knowledge that waitstaff rely heavily on tips to supplement their modest wages.
Most waiters strive to provide excellent service in the hope of earning generous tips.
This waiter was no different.
He had hoped that his efforts to make the teenagers’ dining experience special would have been rewarded with a more substantial tip.
But he shrugged it off, attributing it to the teenagers’ lack of experience or gratitude.
Imagine his surprise, then, when he received a letter from the same group of teenagers a week and a half later.
The letter came with an envelope containing an apology and additional money.
The letter read:
“Dear Mr. Waiter, About a week and half ago, on October 7, my three friends and I came to eat at this restaurant as our own homecoming celebration.
It was an exciting experience for us to be here alone, and it was all new to us.
And you were the best waiter we could ask for.
You were kind, helpful, accommodating, didn’t treat us like babies, and were even able to fit the food to all my allergies!
So I wanted to thank you for making our “grown-up” experience so amazing and fun.”
“I would also like to say sorry on behalf of my group.
Since we were new to all this, our 13-year-old minds didn’t exactly know how to deal with the bill.
You were super helpful in dividing the check up and taking our not-so-preferable cash.
The bill was reasonable, but we had completely forgotten (and frankly didn’t know) what a tip even was, let alone how much to give.
So we emptied our pockets and all money added up to $3.28.”
“Not aware of how small this really was, we left, clueless of what we had left you for all your hard work. Later, we realized our mistake and felt horrible. We knew we had to make it right.”
“So in this envelope, you will find the correct 18% tip + extra for simply being amazing.
We appreciate your help and patience and thank you for making our night fun.
Thank you. – the four teenagers from that night.” It’s truly heartwarming when people acknowledge their mistakes, apologize, and take steps to rectify them.
These teenagers certainly did just that.
Watch the video below to get a closer look into tipping etiquette in restaurants!
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