Brightside, a British science and education website, has compiled a collection of the most liked and responded-to stories shared by restaurant and bar staff on online forums under the topic "Most unforgettable serving experience."

"I once had a strange customer who stared at me throughout his meal. When I brought the 23 USD bill, he immediately handed me 50 USD and told me to keep the change to 'buy myself a smile'," recounted a waitress with the username Anubia.

An American server with the username Comfortable-Salad shared her experience serving a family of 4. The father, covered in tattoos, appeared intimidating at first. However, when paying, he tipped her an extra 50 USD, explaining that his mother had also been a server and he understood the hardships of the job. "I almost cried. He made my night," she said.

A bartender making a cappuccino. Photo: Unsplash

"A regular customer came in looking sad. Wanting to cheer her up, I offered her a small cookie. She immediately smiled and thanked me profusely. As she left, she thanked me again, saying I'd brightened her otherwise terrible day. Honestly, she made my day too. One small cookie brought joy to both of us," shared a Russian barista.

Another time, while working at an upscale cafe, this same barista encountered a grandmother and her grandson. The boy eagerly eyed a pastry, but his grandmother couldn't afford it. A man stepped forward and paid for the treat, telling the cashier, "I just thought of my own child."

A server with the username CirqueDuFreaks recounted his time as a barista, serving a divorced couple, both lawyers. The husband would arrive first, order numerous pastries, and devour them before his ex-wife arrived. She would order tea, and they would sit for 4 hours, working, talking, and bickering. The woman declared she was "glad to be divorced," yet when her ex-husband went to the restroom, she paid for the entire meal. "Despite their constant arguing, I knew there was still affection between them," Cirque observed.

Iern Linn, a server at a Thai restaurant in Canada, shared a touching story about her last day of work before the restaurant closed. During the farewell party, the owner gifted the staff all the remaining dishes, bowls, and dry ingredients. The following day, as the staff cleaned up, an elderly woman with a cane entered, unaware of the closure. The owner immediately set a table, reopened the kitchen, and served her a complimentary meal. "That's how they closed, serving with love until the very last customer," Iern said.

"I worked at a small restaurant where only two people covered the evening shift. One day, my colleague was off, leaving me alone. The restaurant was packed, and in the rush, I forgot to bring the complimentary appetizer to a regular customer's table. When I realized my mistake, I nearly cried, fearing a reprimand. To my surprise, they were understanding, praising my hard work, and tipped me 30%," shared someone with the username Banana Slpit.

Server Kmil recalled a heartwarming memory of a regular family. The couple, in their 30s, had three sons. Usually, children dining out can be a nightmare, but these boys were exceptionally well-behaved. Kmil suspected they were adopted, as each child had a different skin tone from their parents.

For months, they consistently ordered only main courses and drinks. One evening, they ordered dessert. As Kmil was about to inquire about the change, one boy excitedly announced, "We're having dessert today to celebrate one year as a family!"

Kmil worked at the restaurant for another 5 years, witnessing many more happy moments for this family. Years later, she still remembers them. "The boys must be grown up now. I hope they’re all happy," Kmil said.

"I was serving at a restaurant when the kitchen was slow and the bar messed up a drink order, infuriating my customers. I did my best to rectify the situation, but they remained dissatisfied with their meal. Yet, when paying, they tipped me 50 USD with a note saying I was the best part of their experience that night. Their kindness brought me to tears," shared a server named Overhead.

"Two men came to my restaurant, ordered food and drinks, and then left without paying. My colleague was in tears over the several-hundred-dollar bill. I rushed out into the cold and chased after them. They were surprised, each thinking the other had paid. They then gave me 500 USD, even though the bill was 380 USD, saying the extra was for our trouble. People make mistakes, but kindness is everywhere," a waitress recounted her unforgettable customer experience.

Anh Minh