Dining out somewhere nice is the perfect date night for an anniversary. Romantic vibes, tasty food, great drinks. Unfortunately, that was the last thing Makenzie and Steven Shultz got during their anniversary date at a sushi eatery.
The Iowa couple thought the service was horrible, with it even taking 20 minutes just to get a round of waters!
But at the end of their meal, the Shultzes decided to leave their waiter a huge tip, along with a heartwarming note on the receipt. It’s a response that’s taken the internet by storm.
Makenzie got on social media that evening to share what happened.
The mom started her Facebook post saying:
“So here’s the deal. Our service tonight sucked. Took 20 minutes to get water, 40 minutes for an appetizer and over an hour for our entree. People all around us were making fun of the restaurant & how bad the service was. Yeah, it was pretty terrible.”
Instead of being angry for not receiving good service, the couple paid attention to what their waiter was up to. They quickly realized what the real problem was.
Makenzie continued:
“…it was very obvious that the issue was being short staffed, not the server. He was running around like crazy and never acted annoyed with any table. At one point we counted he had 12 tables plus the bar. More than any one person could handle!”
The couple could relate.
Both Makenzie and Steven know what it’s like to be servers at a restaurant, and how hectic it can be. The mom shared with TODAY.com that she and her husband met while waiting tables at the same place.
Despite the slow service, they felt empathy for the waiter who was in a difficult situation but trying his best.
“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.”
Some customers leave bad tips when they don’t have a positive restaurant experience. Yet, the Schultzes decided to do the opposite.
Makenzie explained:
“Steven and I agreed it would feel good to make this guys night when he would probably be getting minimal to no tips due to slow service.”
Their bill came to $66.65. In addition to paying it, they also left a generous $100 tip for the busy waiter.
The couple left before the waiter saw his $100 tip and the note they penned on the receipt.
It said:
“We’ve both been in your shoes. Paying it forward.:)”
In addition to explaining the story, Makenzie posted a photo of the receipt on Facebook. However, it wasn’t for “a pat on the back.”
She concluded her post:
“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.”
So here's the deal. Our service tonight sucked. Took 20 minutes to get water, 40 minutes for an appetizer and over an…
Posted by Makenzie Schultz onSaturday, September 27, 2014
The couple’s kind gesture has touched the internet’s heart. Makenzie’s post has gathered more than 1.8 million “likes” alone! Many people have responded with sweet comments like the one below.
“You guys rock. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes can add some much needed perspective. Well done. Superb example. Be kind ❤”
Someone else wrote:
“Thank you, we all need to be reminded regularly to look at the big picture!”
Hopefully, this story made you smile and brightened your day!
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