Best Tip Ever

“As we all know, working in the food and beverage industry comes with its ups and downs.

There are times we deal with “delusional” customers who seem to think they’re the only ones in the universe that matter—like characters straight out of a movie.

Sometimes, I peek around, looking  for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and tell me I’ve been *Punk’d*, because I can’t believe what I’m hearing could actually be real.

 

But then, out of the blue, you have a great moment or connection with a customer that can completely turn your shift around.

It’s those moments, those real connections that remind us why we hang in there.

Sometimes, it’s both a great story and a great tip,  or even just the unexpected tip you didn’t see coming

(better than the complement “Great job” tip or those fake $50 bills that turn out to be messages about Jesus!) that change everything.

 

For many in the industry, the best part of a shift isn’t just the paycheck; it’s the surprise tips that can turn a shitty day into something special or, in some cases, life-changing. 

After all, who doesn’t love a great tip?”

As we know , not all tips are the same.

Sometimes straight cash is great I mean its what  pays the bills,  but I also appreciate the high percentage tips on smaller checks just showing love.

Let me share a story from my own experience, along with a few from others in the industry.

We’re broken people. And maybe that’s why the unexpected moments—those rare connections with strangers—stick with us.

Like the time I was working in a Las Vegas steakhouse known for its dry-aged steaks and impressive wine selection.

One night, a man came in with his wife or maybe girlfriend and his assistant.

The woman was *hot as fuck* like model or actress-level stunning.

The gentlemen asked me to recommend a wine, so I chose something nice but not too crazy. They loved it and ordered two bottles.

We started chatting about the restaurant business, and he was surprisingly down-to-earth.

I took them on a tour of our dry-aging room, and while we were in the elevator, I overheard him tell his assistant, ‘100 percent,’ while pointing at me.

When they finished, he handed me his card and said he wanted me to train the servers at a restaurant he was opening in Malibu.

He even offered a salary and a place to stay. When I looked at the credit card slip, the tip was 100%—$1,100 on an $1,100 bill.

After looking him up later, I found out he was a big-time fashion designer. I called his assistant, and they were still scouting locations, but in the end, I was happy in Vegas.

Still, it was a hell of a tip and an even better offer.

A good friend of mine, let’s call him LL, has had his fair share of memorable tips while working at a steakhouse in Charleston, SC.

One of the most unforgettable was when Sean Hannity and his wife came in for dinner.

They ordered some expensive wine, and the check came to $4,500.

After the meal, Hannity gave LL a hug, thanked him for his service, and left a 100% tip  $4,500.

That kind of generosity doesn’t happen every day, but for LL, it was a game-changer.

But the moment that really convinced him to stay in the industry came during a different shift.

At a time when he was debating whether he wanted to keep doing this job, he had a table with an $800 autograt on the bill.

When LL presented the check, the gentleman asked about the $800 charge. When LL explained, the man laughed and said, ‘That’s it?’ before adding an extra $1,200 to the bill.

After that, LL knew he couldn’t leave the industry.

But I’m not the only one with stories like these.

When I asked fellow F&B workers about their best tips, the responses I got back were incredible.

One server shared how they got a $3,000 tip on a $5,000 tab—talk about hitting the jackpot.

Another remembered receiving $1,000 on a bar tab that totally made their week.

Then there are the more unusual tips that stick out for reasons other than money.

One worker said they were tipped with a 24-pack of Coronas, and another was left with a car—

yes, an actual car—as a tip.

It’s those quirky moments that make this industry so memorable, even if it’s not always practical.

And then, there are tips that completely change your life.

One woman shared how a regular customer, after hearing about her dream of starting her own business, came in one night and handed her $5,000telling her to go make it happen.

That tip wasn’t just money, it was a message of belief in her potential, giving her the push she needed to launch her own business.

Sometimes the best tips aren’t just about the money—they’re the ones you’ll remember forever, the ones that turn your day (or even your life) around.

Good luck out there, and go make those Tips!