It seemed like a dream come true when a waitress in Scranton, Pennsylvania, received a $3,000 tip, but things swiftly went south.
Mariana Lambert, a server at Alfredo’s Cafe, was astounded to see hundreds of dollars in service added to a $13 bill last year, but things quickly got awkward when the tipper demanded their money back.
Alfredo’s decided to sue the cafe after a contentious online exchange between the eatery and the customer.
According to Best Life, managers were initially suspicious when Eric Smith tipped like there’s no tomorrow, despite only ordering a stromboli.
But Smith’s payment went through, and Smith allegedly said he was leaving the payment as part of a social media movement called Tips for Jesus.
Lambert explained: “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.”
However, the situation took a turn for the worse a few weeks later, according to Alfredo’s Cafe manager Zachary Jacobson, who explained at the time: “A little over a month ago, we received something in the mail that Eric was disputing the charge for the tip that he left.”
“We believed someone was actually attempting to do a good thing,” he continued. After that, how many months have passed since then? There is nothing and not even. Right now, there is nothing to show for it.
When Alfredo’s crew first contacted Smith after paying Lambert the $3,000, which the restaurant ultimately lost, they had assumed it was all just a big mistake.
Despite the fact that Alfredo’s started corresponding with Smith on Facebook, the restaurant claimed it had stopped responding to messages and that it intended to sue him.
“It’s just a little aggravating right now. It’s been causing a lot of nonsense and drama,” said Jacobson.
“Unfortunately, we had to file charges through the magistrate’s office because now we’re just out of this money at this point. And he told us to sue him. so that’s what we’re going to end up doing, I guess.”
He added that he hopes Alfredo’s will come out on top in court, but noted that whatever happens, the situation has been tarnished for good.
“I hope that he owns up to his actions and comes forth and does pay this because you shouldn’t have done this if this was the end result,” he said.
At the time of writing, there has been no update on the lawsuit Alfredo’s filed.
UNILAD has contacted Alfredo’s Cafe for comment.
