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A man left a generous tip after an enjoyable dinner at a Greek restaurant. What was supposed to be a generous act of service divided his family. Let’s find out if this man was right to tip after good service.
Having Server Experience
The original poster (OP), whom we’ll refer to as David, recalls working as a server during college. His daughter also worked at a local Starbucks.
David and his daughter knew how hard it was for service industry workers to make a living.
Nice Family Dinner
One day, David’s father-in-law invited his family out for David’s mother-in-law’s birthday. They decided to go to a local Greek restaurant known for serving great food.
Dinner Is on Me
Toward the end of the dinner, David’s father-in-law said the food was “on him.” So far, everything seemed like it was going fine.
No Tips Please
David had known his father-in-law for close to twenty years by that point and knew he didn’t tip. His father-in-law had once had a bad experience after leaving too much money at a restaurant and never getting his change back.
Generosity and Respect Clash
David, who was careful to always bring cash, decided to leave a nice tip after the good food and service. The family continued to have a good time at the restaurant until David’s father-in-law noticed a $50 bill.
An Unexpected Surprise
Because he was calculated with his money, David’s father-in-law knew this wasn’t money he had left.
Father-In-Law Upset Over Tip
He immediately confronted David in front of the family and claimed David had “disrespected him.”
He felt that David was implying that he was cheap.
Tip Dilemma Divides Family
David was left speechless. He had only tried to do what he felt was right for the server. David’s intention wasn’t to disrespect his father-in-law or be a hero.
A Well-Intentioned Gesture
The family had been at the restaurant for close to two hours, and David felt the server deserved a good tip. After all, he understood the hard work involved as a server from his own previous experience.
Father-In-Law Takes Offense
David’s father-in-law left the restaurant feeling upset. On top of this, David’s wife was also upset with him for upsetting her father.
Daughter Shows Support
Only David’s daughter seemed to be on David’s side, likely because they both knew the hard work involved with working as a server.
Giving a Heads-Up
“In the future, it may be better to say something like ‘since you covered dinner, I thought I would cover the tip’ – even if he’s resistant to tipping (AH), at least the point of the gesture was in the ether.”
More Dinners to Come
“Could you have secretly handed the money directly to the server? Definitely. Is that what you should do from now on? For sure.
“Because you are NTA, but short of death or divorce (neither of which I’ll wish upon your family) I don’t think you’ve had your last dinner with that cheap…”
Good Intentions, Bad Execution
“You did the right thing but its [sic] probably not worth upsetting your wife.”
Generosity Sparks Controversy Over Dinner Bill
Apparently, even kind gestures can be interpreted the wrong way. Unfortunately, David’s good intentions backfired after his family dinner.
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