One of our readers, Emily, recently shared a letter with us about a restaurant visit that brought up important questions about tipping practices, customer service, and handling conflicts.
Here’s her detailed story:
Last night, I (32F) went to a fancy restaurant with my partner (32M) to celebrate his recent promotion. The evening was perfect until the end, when the server’s behavior completely ruined the experience.
When the bill arrived, I added a $10 tip to the $85 check. As the server picked up the payment, she scoffed and loudly remarked, “Ten dollars? This isn’t the 1950s, you know.”
I was shocked. Her tone was incredibly rude. My partner looked at her in disbelief.
“Excuse me?” I responded, feeling instantly annoyed. “I believe $10 on an $85 bill is quite fair.”
The server rolled her eyes dramatically. “The standard tip is 20% these days, cheapskate. Don’t you know how to calculate that?”
I couldn’t believe her arrogant attitude. The $10 was over 11%, which is a reasonable tip by any standard. Her entitlement was infuriating.
“You know what,” I snapped, losing my patience. “With such a nasty attitude, you don’t deserve a tip at all!”
I quickly reached over and took back the $10 bill. The server’s jaw dropped, and she started hurling insults at me, causing a scene. Other diners turned to stare at the commotion. My partner was embarrassed.
Eventually, the manager had to intervene and remove the out-of-control server, who was still shouting at me. We ended up leaving without tipping.
Emily continued:
“I admit I might have overreacted, but her smug and condescending behavior absolutely enraged me. After treating a customer so disrespectfully, she didn’t deserve any extra compensation. However, I’ve been receiving mixed opinions on whether I should have just let it go instead of causing a scene. What are your thoughts?”
Emily’s experience raises several important questions about tipping, customer service, and how to handle conflicts in public settings. What do you think?
Was Emily right to take back the tip, or should she have handled the situation differently?
