The dream customer in the service industry is undoubtedly the big tipper. In a tale that seems too unfair to believe, waitress Ryan Brandt took over her colleague’s shift at a restaurant named Oven and Tap when her co-worker fell ill. She ended up receiving an extraordinary tip of $4,400 from a large dinner party. These generous patrons intended the tip for both Ryan and her ailing colleague, but things rapidly spiraled downhill. The restaurant manager abruptly changed the rules about tipping, resulting in Ryan losing her job after accepting the money.
The $100 Dinner Club – Big Tippers
For those working in hospitality, big tips can be a lifeline. Serving a table of over 40 people, Ryan, who wasn’t supposed to be on that shift, received the massive tip thanks to Grant Wise, also known as @likegrantwise. The post revealing this act went viral, further amplifying its impact.
After dinner, Wise gathered everyone’s attention and announced, “We got to bless our server tonight with $4400.” This was part of a $100 Dinner Club where participants each give $100 as a tip. Ryan was moved to tears by this unexpected act of generosity.
“I have been blessed, so it is wonderful to pay it forward and bless someone else. God bless all who contributed and the servers who received it,” the Instagram post read.
Unfair Dismissal After Big Tipper Asked for Money Back
Wise had thought ahead to ask the restaurant’s tip policy and had been told tips go straight to the waitstaff. Yet, the manager demanded Ryan hand over the cash, giving her only 20% of the total.
“I was told that I was going to be giving my cash over to my shift manager. And I would be taking home 20%,” Ryan told KNWA news.
Wise was infuriated to learn about this and demanded the return of his money, so he could personally hand it to Ryan outside the restaurant. Unfortunately, shortly afterward, she was fired. This left her struggling to meet basic needs like rent and groceries.
Refusal to Explain
When KNWA News asked the restaurant about the firing, they confirmed that tips were redirected upon the guests’ request. Still, they wouldn’t elaborate on the reasons behind Ryan’s termination.
“Because we value our employees and highly respect their privacy, we never discuss personnel issues. The server who was terminated… was not let go because she chose to keep the tip money,” they stated.
Big Tipper and Fundraiser
In a heartening twist, Grant Wise started a GoFundMe page in her honor. The fundraiser accumulated $18,367 to aid Ryan with her expenses. Furthermore, it turned a large amount of negativity toward Oven and Tap, hitting them hard in reviews and social media ratings.
Below is a YouTube video depicting this heartwarming yet troubling story:
Sources
- “Oven and Tap employee let go after $4,400 tip.” NWA Homepage. Will Moclaire. December 10, 2021.
- “Waitress Fired After Receiving $4,400 Tip From Customer.” IGV Official. Rosario Manochino. May 3 2023
- “An Arkansas waitress served a party that tipped $4,400. It led to her getting fired.” Washington Post. Jonathan Edwards. December 16, 2021.