A restaurant in Pennsylvania moved to sue a customer after he left a $3,000 tip on a $13 meal.
Eric Smith visited Alfredo’s Pizza in Scranton and ordered a plate of stromboli.
Smith reportedly left the large tip as part of a social media trend called “Tips For Jesus.” Staff at the restaurant were surprised when the payment went through. They initially praised him for what appeared to be a generous gesture.
The tip was given to waitress Mariana Lambert, who worked at the restaurant. Lambert said the money had a strong emotional impact at the time. She said she was still in shock after receiving the $3,000 tip.
“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.”
The situation later changed after the restaurant received notice about the payment. Alfredo’s Vice President Leslie Minicozzi Galacci said Smith disputed the charge with his credit card company. The restaurant said it had already paid Lambert by company check.
Restaurant said it was left with the loss
Galacci said the restaurant received notice 45 days after Smith had eaten there. By that point, the restaurant had already paid Lambert the full $3,000. Galacci said the owners were then left with the financial loss.
“We received notice 45 days after he dined in our establishment.
“We had already paid Mari the $3,000 by a company check so currently we, as the owners, are hit with the loss.”
Management contacted Smith after learning about the dispute. They hoped the situation had been caused by a mistake. However, the customer reportedly stopped responding to their messages.
Manager Zachary Jacobson said the restaurant initially believed Smith was trying to do something positive. He said the situation had become frustrating several months later. He also said the dispute had caused unnecessary problems for the business.
“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.”
He added: “It’s just a little aggravating right now. It’s been causing a lot of nonsense and drama.”
Alfredo’s filed through magistrate’s office
Alfredo’s Pizza is known to some viewers because it was mentioned in The Office. The restaurant later decided to take Smith to court over the disputed $3,000. Staff said they hoped to recover the money after the charge was challenged.
Jacobson said the restaurant had filed through the magistrate’s office. He said the business had reached that point because it was out the money. He also said Smith had told them to sue him.
“Unfortunately, we had to file charges through the magistrate’s office because now we’re just out of this money at this point,” Jacobson explained. “And he told us to sue him, so that’s what we’re going to end up doing, I guess.”
The case drew attention because the original tip appeared to be unusually generous. It later became a dispute over who should absorb the $3,000 loss.
The restaurant said the issue began only after the payment was contested.
Featured image credit: WNEP
