Incredibly conscientious man sends sweet gesture to California server after eating at her deli
An ESPN feature writer, Roberto José Andrade, sent a $50 letter to a Los Angeles deli after worrying he had forgotten to tip his server during a visit weeks earlier. The gesture, made without any obligation or way of being caught out, has been praised online as an example of thoughtfulness towards service staff, whose income often relies heavily on tips.
Andrade visited Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant on 1 May with two friends, ordering the pastrami sandwich the deli is famous for. After leaving, he became unsure whether he had actually left a tip amid confusion over splitting the bill, later writing that he was "about 75 percent sure" he had. Weeks later, on 19 May, he posted the restaurant $50 along with an apologetic letter, explaining he had once worked as a busboy and waiter himself and understood how much tips matter. Langer's shared the letter on Facebook, saying it had tracked down the "floored" waitress to give her the money, and thanked Andrade for doing the right thing when no one would have known otherwise.
- Man sent $50 to a deli, unsure if he'd tipped his server
- Letter explained his own past as a waiter and busboy
- Langer's deli praised the gesture and gave the money to the server
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Andrade visited Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant, a well-known deli in Los Angeles, on 1 May with two friends. After paying the bill, he became uncertain whether he had actually left a tip for his server, given confusion over splitting the cost between the group.
Weeks later he sent the restaurant $50 in the post, along with a letter explaining his worry and apologising in case he had underpaid. He drew on his own past experience working as a busboy and waiter to explain why he understood how much tips matter to service staff, whose earnings often depend heavily on them.
Langer's shared his letter on social media after locating the waitress in question to pass on the money, prompting wider attention to the story as an example of an unprompted act of consideration towards a low-paid worker.