Emily Bauer, a waitress at Red Hook Seafood and Bar in San Antonio, Texas, received a $2,000 tip, but her excitement was cut short when she was told by the restaurant she wouldn’t get a penny of it.
What We Know:
- Bauer had only been a server for about 2 weeks when she went to work her shift on a busy Sunday. According to the news station KVUE, while working her tables, a man was seated in her section that she apologized to numerous times due to the service “being slow.”
- The man was very understanding and assured her it was okay and mentioned, “I’ve owned restaurants, and I understand how it is to be a server.” He then when on to say, “You know what, just cancel the drinks, cancel the rest of everything and just give me my ticket.” At first, Bauer didn’t notice he had given her a $2,000 tip and with it a note that said, “Merry Christmas! Keep working hard!”
- Bauer told the New York Times she started crying and she searched for the man, but he had left already. She went on to say, ” “The first thing that I thought of was my kids. I would be able to finally have a Christmas to give them whatever they want or whatever they need.”
- Her excitement was quickly put to a stop after the restaurant told her they couldn’t process a tip larger than $500.
Bauer stated, “I was sitting at a table and the other servers were congratulating me and [my manager] came over and was like, ‘Rule No. 1. Never accept a tip like that because you’re never going to get it.”
- Another server suggested that the restaurant give Bauer four separate tips of $500, but they refused. The customer later called the restaurant and said, “I don’t understand why it’s not being taken out if I have that money in my account.”
She asked to speak with the man to express her gratitude, but her manager said they didn’t have his information. Bauer explained how she had had a rough year, and she has prayed for a moment like that. The pandemic has changed things for her and her family, and she says, ” “For somebody to just block my blessings, it’s just like what can I do about it?” No response has been reported from the restaurant.
