Pennsylvania Restaurant Sues Man for Taking Back $3,000 Tip on a $13 Bill

A seemingly good deed has created a conflict that will be resolved in court

Photo byBlake WiszonUnsplash

Generous tipping is a trend that has resulted in the underpaid restaurant workers of the nation to finally feel appreciated. But what happens when that tip is a hoax?

Alfredo's Pizza Cafe in Scranton is suing a customer who left his waitress a $3,000 tip and later disputed the charge with his credit card company, according to a report.

In July, Eric Smith stopped at Alfredo's and ordered a $13 stromboli. He then left his waitress Mariana Lambert the generous tip, claiming it was part of a social media trend called "Tips for Jesus."

"It really meant a lot to me because everyone's going through stuff. It really touched my heart. I still can't believe it. I'm still in shock," Lambert told WNEP in July.

A month ago, however, Alfredo's staff received a letter in the mail from Smith disputing the charge, manager Zachary Jacobson told WNEP. Alfredo's Vice President Leslie Minicozzi Galacci confirmed the disputed tip to Newsweek.

"We received notice 45 days after he dined in our establishment," Galacci said. "We had already paid Mari the $3,000 by a company check so currently we, as the owners, are hit with the loss."

According to Newsweek, restaurant staff contacted Smith, but after communication stopped, Alfredo's Pizza filed charges in Lackawanna County Magistrate Court.

"We thought somebody was actually trying to do a good thing. And then now we are, what, three months later? Not even, and there's nothing. There's nothing to show for it at this point," Jacobson told WNEP.

In the U.S., where food service workers overwhelmingly rely on tips for survival, exceedingly generous tippers tend to create a bright spot in the news. In May, Rhode Island waitress Jennifer Vernancio was bowled over when a pair of loyal patrons tipped her $810 for a $48 meal. In 2021, a customer at a Nebraska bakery left a $2,000 tip to support the small business. And in 2020, an Ohio restaurant received a $5,600 tip to be divided among 28 staff members.

The average tip for "perfect service" in the U.S. is 20 percent, but that average can fall as low as 6 percent when patrons perceive a restaurant server as "rude," according to a 2017 survey from Discover. Although many servers live off their tips, 70 percent of those surveyed said they have previously received zero compensation for their services.