Server sparks heated debate after leaving scathing comment on influencer's Instagram about 'bad' tip

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

Food influencer Asia - who goes by @thefoodieb**ch on Instagram - is used to giving her opinions on different restaurants - the food, the ambiance, the service.
But what she hasn't experienced is an employee from the restaurant giving their opinion back - until now.
In an Instagram Reel that has garnered more than 86,000 views and almost 3,000 comments, Asia talks about her experience at Etra in East Hollywood.
In this video, which she shared with her 30,000 followers, the 27-year-old introduces a new rubric she would be using going forward for restaurants: vibe (or atmosphere), price, staff, and food.
She gave the vibe a 5/5 (she credits the inclusion of a purse hook), the price a 2/5 (she paid $32 for an 'appetizer'), the food a 3/5, and the staff a 4/5.
Asia mentioned that she staff were the reason she tried what she called a 'f**king delicious' Branzino.
'This is why staff is important,' she said in the video.
'Staff should know what's actually good on the f**king menu. The owner was a little weird but the staff was nice and knowledgeable.'
The server Asia had commented on the video, asking the influencer why she had left a 'bad tip'
But it seems as though the great service from the staff didn't warrant an equally great tip.
The alleged server from the restaurant left a comment on Asia's Instagram calling her out for the tip she left.
'Hey Asia! Respectfully, I'm wondering what was missing for you service wise? You had some kind words for us as a staff here, but you left us a really bad tip,' she said, followed by a sad-face emoji.
Asia then responded, 'Hi! Respectfully it's difficult for me to justify a 20-30 percent tip on top of the overpriced food.
'I believe I left 15 percent though next time I'll have to decide between a glass of wine or a heftier tip!'
The server then went on to reply that while she understood the difficult economy, servers and other people in the kitchen relied on tips for their livelihoods.
She also mentioned that while diners will pay any price for a meal, they'll typically cut corners while tipping - and that the influencer actually tipped less than 15 percent.
And while the two continued to have pretty civil discourse about what is 'acceptable' for tipping, other fans in the comment were quick to share their own thoughts.
Some defended the server, and said that the influencer was in the wrong for 'trying to save a few bucks' in regard to the tip.
'They are trying to pay their rent, cover food costs, pay staff a living wage, jump through impossible regulatory hoops, etc,' one Instagram user commented.
'We're all just trying to survive in this capitalist hellhole of a country, don't take it out on small restaurant owners and staff by leaving unfair reviews and s**tty tips.'
'A really insane vibe to be such a harsh critic of small owned businesses and also being a bad tipper,' another user said.
One user even commented: 'If you can't afford to tip, don't go out to eat.'
But other fans pointed out that absurdity of the server publicly commenting on Asia's video.
'This should have been a DM, no way you trying to embarrass her over 15 percent. Get a grip,' one person replied to the server's original comment.
'No way a waiter is in your comments guilting you for leaving 15 percent what kind of dystopia is East Hollywood,' another chimed in.
Other users mirrored the same sentiments, saying that tip culture was 'getting out of hand.'
But despite all the comments rolling in in her defense, Asia finally left another comment on her own video saying, 'Officially been bullied into 20 percent tip minimum thank you everyone for your service.'