My husband and I chose to celebrate our anniversary at a fancy restaurant we’d been saving up for and even booked in advance. We wanted a special evening, but from the moment we walked in, it felt chaotic — loud, crowded, and nothing like the fine-dining experience we expected.
Still, we tried to enjoy the night. Unfortunately, the service was painfully slow. It took nearly twenty minutes just to get water, and when the waitress finally approached, she didn’t greet us — just asked what we wanted.
When our food arrived, it got worse. My husband’s steak was undercooked, and my pasta tasted reheated. We politely mentioned it, but she simply shrugged and blamed the busy kitchen, making no effort to fix anything. She never came back to check on us either.
Then came the $250 bill.
Disappointed with both the food and service, I decided not to leave a tip. As we got up to leave, the waitress picked up the bill, looked at it, and grabbed my arm.
Mockingly, she said loudly, “Don’t worry, honey — I deal with cheapskates like you all the time.”
Humiliated, we left immediately.
Later, friends were divided. Some said tipping shouldn’t be automatic when service is terrible, while others thought I should’ve complained to a manager or left something anyway.
But for me, it wasn’t about the money — it was about not rewarding poor service.
