Thoughts on recent restaurant controversies: Drew Brees' tip & the TGI Fridays bad booze

Earlier this week a photo (see below) hit the internet of a restaurant credit card receipt signed by Drew Brees, leaving a $3 tip on a $74 bill (4%).  After much public ridicule about his cheapness, Brees sent out this tweet defending himself:

In case anyone still cares about this report: I tipped $3 on a takeout order. Had we sat down it would have been 20%+ http://t.co/Ktfnnl10pX
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) July 31, 2013

Click on photo to expand

Depending on the specifics of the situation, it's quite possible that his $3 to-go order tip is still a horrendous one.  I wrote a blog a few months ago that explains exactly why.  But if it's a restaurant designed for take out business, than it may be no big deal.  I'm willing to give Brees the benefit of the doubt and assume that's the case, especially considering the place's managing partner wrote a formal apology letter in which he stated "takeout orders do not usually garner a tip at our restaurant.”

But even considering this, I think it's definitely uncool of Brees to leave $3.  He's Drew freaking Brees; a year ago he signed a 5 year $100 million contract.  The difference between $3 and $20 is literally nothing to him, why not just drop a great tip and make everyone happy?

And in other service industry news, an owner of eight TGI Fridays in New Jersey has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine for filling liquor bottles with cheaper alcohol.  Here's my original take on that story as it was happening.  It's actually a $400,000 fine, and $100,000 for "investigative costs," which supports my theory that Aaron Hernandez should have to pay for the police divers searching for his gun.


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