Karen Walks Into A Restaurant 20 Minute Before Closing And Demands Her 25-People Party Be Served, Her Jaw Drops When She Was Charged Mandatory 25% Gratuities

The world of waitstaff is no cakewalk, demanding top-notch customer service skills alongside the finesse of multitasking and staying organized amidst time constraints. Servers juggle a plethora of responsibilities, from taking orders and delivering dishes to handling payments and financial transactions, all while managing their composure.

Negotiating with challenging or disgruntled customers is a skill servers must adeptly wield. In addition, they often endure prolonged hours on their feet, navigating through the whirlwind of a fast-paced and bustling environment.

Despite these trials, many individuals find gratification in the role of a server. The chance to engage with a diverse array of people and the allure of earning gratuities add an appealing dimension to the job.

And now, let’s delve into today’s tale of interactions and tips. A TikTok video recently went viral, shedding light on a server’s encounter with an unconventional group of 26 individuals led by a notorious “Karen” at their place of employment.

This assemblage strolled in merely 40 minutes before closing time—a manageable scenario for a smaller gathering, yet quite a challenge for accommodating a party of 26 with the clock ticking down. To compound the situation, the group initially claimed they would dine elsewhere, only to reverse their decision and return to the establishment with a mere 20 minutes left on the clock.

Although such gatherings could sometimes lead to joyful interactions and generous gratuities, this particular group was under the leadership of an especially demanding “Karen,” turning the server’s experience into an ongoing ordeal.

Navigating through challenging customers

Helena Lopes (not the actual photo)

The server recollects the encounter:

“I’m like, ‘We’re going to have to break you up into two separate tables because we don’t have a table long enough,’ This woman starts screaming that I have no idea what I’m talking about and where’s my manager.

So I get my manager, the manager comes out and she’s like oh, OK, yeah, we can try to make that work for you. So we go and we set up this giant table in our back room.

By the time we come out they’re like, ‘We’re actually going to go somewhere else.’ At this point, I didn’t care because we were already 40 minutes until close; there was no way we were going to be out until 9:30.

‘As I tried to explain that we’d have to split them into two separate tables due to limited space, this woman erupted into a frenzy, questioning my competence and demanding to see my manager.'”

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The party had initially intended to dine at another establishment but had a change of heart a mere 20 minutes later, seeking seating once again. When the server conveyed the potential constraints due to closing hours, the group’s leader, infamously dubbed a “Karen,” insisted on speaking to a manager.

Furthermore, the server faced pushback from this leader while attempting to capture their food and beverage preferences. The server’s request was deemed “rude,” and the customer hinted that their tip would reflect their dissatisfaction.

The server proceeds to narrate the unfolding events:

“By the time I get all of their order, it’s literally past close. They ordered seven champagne bottles because they were pissed we didn’t have hard alcohol.

I get those for them, drop them off, put their food in. The food’s taking 40 minutes. In the span of these 40 minutes that they’re waiting, every 10 seconds they’re like, ‘Excuse me, where’s our food?’”

Watch the video:

Reportedly, the party leader was taken aback by the $310 charge for the champagne and a grand total of $610 when accounting for unconsumed items.

“She starts screaming at me, ‘Well, don’t think you’re going to get a tip, buddy.’ Well, little did she know that automatic gratuities are added to parties of 14 or more, so 25% was added to this, and we got about $170 out of this, Karen.

She even thought writing a note like, ‘Yeah, you did a horrible job’ on a napkin was going to do anything. I crumpled that shit up and burned it, threw it right in the trash.”

Karen’s Yelp review

TikTok comments weighed in, criticizing both the “Karen” and the server’s manager for permitting such behavior. Many highlighted the fact that such attitudes seem to be rewarded by management.

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A sobering reality

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Unprepared orders

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A thoughtful suggestion

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The central message resonating from the video is a plea to eschew “Karen”-esque behavior. When dining out, it’s crucial to approach the experience with a readiness to pay for your meal without harboring complaints. Also, be mindful of the staff’s situation, avoiding the reservation of a sizable group at a dining establishment that is nearing its closing time and anticipating exceptional service.