There’s a lady who comes in every Monday and calls ahead asking for a side garden salad (she asks for it on a big dish), a cup of soup, water, and bread and oil (complimentary), to be ready for her before her arrival. The soup and salad combo is unlimited.

She only leaves $1 for the tip each time, but it’s cool because as long as you follow her directions precisely and have her table set up with everything correct to a T, the only communication other than the phone call is, “Can I get another soup?” (once or twice) and then, eventually, “Can I have the check?”

I’ve served her over the last seven months, and it’s well known amongst the server crew that she always leaves $1, so they all avoid her.

Today, I decide to switch it up.

Me: “I have to compliment you on your business-like demeanor! Are you a real estate agent? You’re always on your phone and dressed nicely.”

Customer: *Blushing but smiling* “No.” 

She left me $5 that day! I had to spread the news; everybody was in shock! After that, every time she came in, she would smile when she saw me, I would smile back, and she’d tip me $5 every time!

We called her “The Governess.”

It was the 1990s, and I worked in a restaurant. The Governess was a woman, perhaps in her sixties, with short hair set in curls that were close to her head. She dressed and spoke with a stiff sort of formality. She was strict, bordering on mean.

We didn’t hate her. I don’t think she ever got the cold shoulder. We were all extremely nice to her in hopes that she wouldn’t be too demanding with us. She tipped adequately. But she was draining to serve.

After a solid year or so, she came in, and I thought, “No… I just can’t deal with her.” I was waiting tables, pregnant, and exhausted. But this was my job, so I forced a smile onto my face and greeted her.

To my surprise, she smiled back. Throughout her whole meal, she was pleasant and warm. It was like a switch had been flipped, and she had become a completely different person. Another server whispered to me that she had been in a few days before and was just as cheerful then.

She became one of our most beloved customers. When one of our servers found out she was a dean for a small private school, he let it slip that we had nicknamed her “The Governess”. She loved it!

She came into the restaurant one day stating that she wanted to book a large party for an early dinner: her retirement party. One of our line cooks suggested that we get a custom sign made that said, “Governess Parking Only”. Several of us chipped in to have it made.

When the party came, her husband laughed hysterically at the parking sign and asked if he could take it with them. Every employee of the restaurant was there to wish her well. A few of our former servers even stopped in to give her a hug.

Shortly after that, she was gone from our lives… relocating to a warmer state. I never knew what caused her shift in personality, but I’m so glad we could get to know her as well as we did.

Quite a few years ago, I was a bartender in a corporate-style cookie-cutter restaurant. I mostly worked nights but had one regular mid-shift on Fridays. We were always super busy at the bar for lunch on Fridays and usually had quite a few of the mall workers coming in to eat and then head back to work.

Nearly every Friday, the same smug, borderline rude lady came in for lunch. Every time, she paid with exact change — zero tip. Maybe half the time, she would complain over some minor inconvenience, and more than a few times, she got a comped meal. The more I had to wait on her, the more indignant and pissed I got.

Around Christmas time, I was out and about in the mall buying for family and friends. I picked out something nice for my girlfriend at the time — a sheer top that I thought would look amazing on her. It was decently priced with it being on sale, too.

Walking up to the cashier, I was a bit surprised to run into… [Rude Lady]. Whatever. In street clothes, I felt like she barely registered who I was, or maybe she really didn’t care who was at her register — maybe both. So, I handed her a $20 bill. She examined it for a moment, turned it over twice, and even held it up to the light. Then, out came the counterfeit pen marker. I was thinking, “A bit excessive, no?”

Change should have been around a dollar and change. Surprisingly, she handed out $81 plus change.

She called for the next customer in line, so I stepped to the side for a moment in contemplation. I could honestly feel the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other.

It took me a moment or two… but I finally let my moral compass win and stepped back in front of the register.

I nicely explained that a mistake had been made, but before I could continue, she shot me down and briskly told me in a semi-professional tone to GTFOH.

So… I did.

The way I look at it? All those lost tips and the money she had just gifted me were just Karma. Sucked to be her, I guess.

Related:
A Fellow Retail Worker Should Know Better!

I work in a touristy restaurant in New Orleans. We’ve just rolled out a Mardi Gras-themed menu, including a cocktail called “The Pink Chicken” (Malibu, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, pineapple juice, and grenadine). I overhear a new server offering this to some customers.

New Server: “Don’t worry; it’s safe to order the Pink Chicken because we put enough alcohol in it to kill the salmonella.”

I ran over to play it off as a joke and then took the new server to the back to explain some VERY rudimentary basics.

It’s prom season, and our restaurant seems to be a popular spot for a lot of high schoolers to take out their dates. Our restaurant is in the city of Rome, Georgia, and we like to advertise the fact that we’re one of the oldest continually open restaurants in the city.

Teen #1: “So, how old is this place?”

Me: “It’s been renovated a few times, but the restaurant has been around almost as long as the city.”

Teen #2: “How long is that?”

Me: “The city was founded in 1834, so almost 190 years!”

Teen #1: “So… like… ancient Rome?”

Me: “Haha! Good one!”

Teen #2: “What do you mean?”

Me: “I mean that was a good joke.”

Teen #1: “What joke?”

Me: “About ancient Rome.”

Teen #1 & #2: *Blank expressions*

Me: “Can I get you started on drinks?”

I come back later with their drinks, and one of them has brought up Wikipedia on their phone. 

Teen #2: “Oh! Did you know there’s another Rome in Europe?!”