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Customer Tips $300 Then Walks into Kitchen. Reaches into Wallet for 17 Unsuspecting People

By Liz Boselli April 18, 2018 at 5:29pm

After having dinner with five companions before going to see a show, a man from Seattle named Mike was handed the bill.

He and his friends clearly enjoyed their meal and time at Boka restaurant in Chicago, because Mike decided to leave a 39 percent tip of $300.

For most restaurant-goers, tipping 20 percent is a sign that the food and service were great, so Mike’s tip was off the charts.

But he wasn’t finished there. After paying the bill, Mike asked if he could thank the kitchen staff.

When his server agreed, he went into the kitchen of the restaurant with a surprise.

He reached into his wallet again, this time pulling out a $100 bill for each of the 17 members of the kitchen staff that night to thank them for a wonderful experience.

According to Boka’s Facebook page, Mike told them, “This was absolutely the best service and best food I have ever had.”

“It was amazing to have that happen unexpectedly and randomly, and for someone to show that amount of appreciation,” Boka general manager Jon Leopold said.

“It’s not just about the money but spending time with people in the kitchen and telling them how wonderful of a meal it was and how important it was for the cooks to be doing what they’re doing.”

Those working in food service know that those who have never worked in the industry are often unaware that most of the work is thankless, especially what goes on behind the scenes.

Mike’s tips that evening came to a total of $2,000, the highest tip the restaurant had ever received.

And the restaurant staff couldn’t be more thankful for Mike’s unconditional generosity.

“It was definitely a rare experience that I think everybody was happy to be a part of,” said sous-chef Brianna Meyers. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

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