We’ve all experienced it: a special evening out that is tainted by an unfortunate encounter. Amelia’s letter about her recent dining experience raises important questions regarding tipping etiquette, customer service, and how to handle conflicts.

Subject: My Tip Withdrawal Due to the Waitress’s Rude Attitude

Amelia writes: “Last night, my husband and I went to a nice restaurant to celebrate his big promotion. The evening was going smoothly until the end, when our waitress completely soured the experience with her unpleasant attitude.

When the check arrived, I left a $10 tip on an $85 bill. As the waitress picked up the money, she sneered and exclaimed, ‘Ten bucks? This isn’t the 1950s anymore!’ I was taken aback by her condescending tone. My husband was equally shocked.

‘Excuse me?’ I replied, already irritated. ‘I believe $10 on an $85 bill is a fair tip.’ The waitress rolled her eyes and retorted, ‘It’s a standard 20% tip these days. Do you not know how to calculate that?’ Her entitlement and rude behavior were infuriating.

I snapped and said, ‘With that kind of attitude, you don’t deserve a tip at all!’ I quickly retrieved the $10 bill from the table. The waitress then began to loudly berate me, hurling insults and creating a scene that drew the attention of other diners. My husband was mortified.

Eventually, the manager intervened and removed the disgruntled waitress, who continued to yell at me as she was escorted out. We ended up leaving without leaving a tip. In hindsight, I may have overreacted, but her dismissive and disrespectful behavior was inexcusable. Now, I’m facing heated debates about whether I should have simply let it go instead of causing a scene. What do you think?”