Couple Tips Overworked Waiter $100 After Slow Service; Encourages Others to 'Think of Entire Situation Before You Judge'
Makenzie and Steven Schultz's act of kindness towards a waiter has gone viral and inspired others to perform random acts of kindness.
The couple went to a local restaurant to celebrate their anniversary, but things did not go exactly as planned. Makenzie wrote that it "took 20 minutes to get water, 40 minutes for an appetizer and over an hour for our entrée," but the couple decided to stick it out and stay at the restaurant. Instead of chastising the waiter, they took a look around and realized exactly what was going on.
"It was very obvious that the issue was being short staffed, not the server," she posted on Facebook. "He was running around like crazy and never acted annoyed with any table. At one point we counted [that] he had 12 tables plus the bar. More than any one person could handle! As I sat there and watched him run back & forth and apologize for the wait, I said to Steven… Wow, this used to be us. Waiting tables. I don't miss it at all and I never loved that job. I did it for the tips."
It's a view that most people would not have taken, with service being not that good and it being their anniversary. But Steven and Makenzie decided that they wanted to do something special for the overworked waiter who was scrambling to make the most of a bad situation.
"Steven and I agreed it would feel good to make this guys [sic] night when he would probably be getting minimal to no tips due to slow service. We walked out before he saw this (the receipt) and I'm not posting this for a pat on the back. I'm just sharing this as a friendly reminder to think of the entire situation, before you judge. And always always always remember where you came from," Makenzie concluded, with a picture of the receipt.
Makenzie's post has gone viral and the couple has appeared on "Good Morning America" to discuss their actions. So far, the waiter has not come forward to tell his side of the story.