“AITAH for not tipping after overhearing what my waitress said about me?”

A 30-year-old woman went to a restaurant with her mother and her boyfriend’s mother for a dinner reservation. They arrived early and were seated without any issues. Despite the restaurant being relatively empty, their waitress took about 20 minutes to attend to them, and when she did, her service was lackluster. The waitress didn’t greet them properly, got their drink orders wrong, and was visibly annoyed when correcting the mistake.

The woman noticed the waitress’s poor attitude and, while heading to the washroom, overheard the waitress making a derogatory comment about having to serve “a black table,” implying that Black patrons don’t tip well. This remark confirmed her suspicions about the waitress’s lack of effort. After returning from the bathroom, the woman’s boyfriend and his mother, who are white, joined the table. The waitress’s demeanor changed drastically, and her service became notably better.

When it came time to pay, the woman decided to leave a 0% tip on the bill, reflecting the waitress’s earlier discriminatory attitude rather than the improved service. The waitress confronted her about the tip, and the woman explained that she had decided not to tip based on the overheard comments. The waitress looked shocked and nervous, while the woman’s boyfriend’s mother expressed disappointment, suggesting that she should have tipped regardless to demonstrate good character. The woman’s boyfriend and mother supported her decision, leaving her uncertain if a small tip might have been a better choice.

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