A set of enthusiastic food lovers is never shy about sharing their opinions.
Asian White, known as @thefoodiebitch, a food influencer from Los Angeles, recently faced some unexpected backlash that came with being a prominent figure in the food scene. Last week, she shared a review of an Italian restaurant in East Hollywood, where she evaluated the atmosphere, food, prices, and staff. Yet, it wasn’t the meal that left her unsatisfied; rather, it was a surprising remark from her waitress regarding her tip.
The waitress approached White with a message: “Hey Asian! Respectfully, I wonder what is missing for you. You had some nice things to say about us as staff, but you left us with a really bad tip.”
For her meal, White selected focaccia, sausage with peppers, and blanzino based on the server’s suggestion.
White mentioned she enjoyed her visit but felt the pricing was a bit unclear and, frankly, the fork she was given was not ideal. Some of the comments on her post sparked a spirited yet respectful debate among viewers.
She left a 15% tip on a total of $98.70 before tax, presumably to mitigate the overall cost of her dining experience. “It’s tough to justify a higher tip when the meal feels overpriced,” she noted in response.
The waitress expressed her understanding of the rising costs of dining out but stressed how much tips mean for servers: “That’s how we support ourselves.” She explained that business owners can set fixed prices, while staff don’t have that luxury, which often leads to disappointment when diners don’t tip generously.
The conversation between them continued, with discussions centering on whether restaurants should implement mandatory service charges due to the scrutiny staff face over tips. The waitress shared that in many places in LA, service charges get reduced when cash goes directly to the owner.
She emphasized her intent: “I’m not aiming to embarrass anyone. I just want to advocate for service workers.” She appreciated the constructive dialogue that emerged from the situation.
Despite the discussion, it appeared there was no ill will between White and the waitress. However, the internet had a mixed reaction. Many felt that commenting on a customer’s social media like this was borderline harassment.
Some questioned why the waitress would voice her concerns instead of addressing the need for fair wages with her employer. In Los Angeles, the minimum wage hovers just above $17, and California laws often don’t factor this into job performance considerations.
A number of users felt the waitress’s remarks were inappropriate, but others defended the criticism, arguing that as a public figure, White should be open to feedback. “We often share our thoughts on experiences, while restaurant staff are expected to be quiet and tolerant,” one commenter noted.
“Leaving a small tip while praising service feels a bit passive-aggressive and is unfair,” said the server. “Good etiquette should work both ways.”
This incident has gone viral, racking up nearly 90,000 views. It’s now sparked a Reddit discussion initiated by someone against tipping, raising concerns that the server might face repercussions at work, especially with some users “review bombing” the restaurant with low ratings.
The restaurant has not issued a comment, nor has White addressed the situation yet.
