This happened a few months ago on a very busy night. I was absolutely SLAMMED by the point of the night when my three-top turned into a seven-top and managed to find a second table to add to their initial table in my already full section.
I had so much food to run at that point, so when I noticed this table had added people, I told them I’d be right there. It took a while, maybe five or ten minutes; I’m not sure. My frazzled a** ran over, and everybody placed their order. One guy, while placing his drink order, handed me five bucks. I continued the order, and then his friend handed me a twenty. Good start!
I brought them their drinks. The dude handed me five bucks. I came back with their salads. Five bucks. Dropped off salt and pepper. Five bucks.
I mentioned to the hostess at one point that every time I went to this table, the guy handed me five bucks. I went on with my night.
I brought them their food. He handed me five bucks. At that point, I finally said something.
Me: “Do you just walk around with $5 in your pocket at all times?! How many $5 bills do you have?!”
Customer: “I’m a continuous tipper.” *Hands me five bucks*
I left it at that and continued my night. His friend came up to me at some point away from the table.
Customer’s Friend: “His health is deteriorating, and he wants to use his money to make others smile.”
Well, I was the lucky one who got to serve him that night. Eventually, one of the hostesses came up to me.
Hostess: “I see what you mean about five bucks.” *Flashes a five-dollar bill* “I was cleaning tables around yours, and he gave me five bucks!”
I high-fived her, and the night continued.
More and more people came to me to tell me that this guy had handed them five bucks. If they were working in his vicinity, five bucks. He asked me what time it was at one point, and I pulled out my phone to check. His friend stopped me and said:
Customer’s Friend: “You’re supposed to say, ‘It’s tip time.'”
And he handed me five bucks!
One coworker caught wind of the five bucks phenomenon, and he walked in the customer’s vicinity to see if he’d hand him five bucks. He didn’t, so we thought, “Maybe just the girls get five bucks?”
So, we sent the new guy out in that vicinity to test that theory. He came back with $20.
Anyway, I cashed the table out. The customer tipped $30 on their $80 tab. His friend came up to me while I was taking another table’s order and handed me a twenty.
I ran outside to thank them again, and I saw the guy talking to some coworkers. He asked one of them what time it was.
Coworker: “Oh… I know this one! Tip time!”
He handed her ten bucks since he had run out of fives. He went on about how great of a night he’d had.
I responded by talking about how great of a night WE’D had.
At this point, I was standing at a distance, though. I couldn’t accept any more money. They had already given me a ridiculous amount.
Me: “Sir, you made everybody’s night. You are the reason we love what we do.”
Customer: “Remember me.”
I will.
Customer: “And look for me when [Band that’s playing tonight] plays.”
I do. They’ve played maybe four times since, and I haven’t seen him.
I hope that guy is doing okay. My favorite part of that day, aside from everybody being overjoyed at work, was the joy in his eyes. He seemed genuinely happy to see our reactions. I aspire to be like him one day.