Word to the wise: If you plan on delivering your food or drinks to your server, you should leave a tip on your receipt along with your phone number.
This bit of common sense is not very common. That’s what an IHOP server learned firsthand when a poorly tipped customer tried to get her phone number after she left a modest tip for her work.
In a viral TikTok video, Elijah (@pickitup.elijah) records himself shooting a shot with an IHOP waitress as she approaches the table to receive a signed receipt. She leaves his boxed food on the table and asks if he can get “something else” before leaving from there.
“One more thing…I thought you were really beautiful, so could you give me your phone number or something?” he asks the server.
The waitress quickly shot down the idea of giving him her information. “I have a boyfriend,” she says, moving her wrist.
He then panned the camera around the restaurant and asked, “So… where are you?” She expects him to work at the same restaurant as her, have lunch there during her breaks, or spend time there on her days off.
In response, the waitress picks up Elijah’s signed receipt, shows it to him, says, “Oh, no, the tip is not $2,” and walks away.
Despite being rejected, Elijah wrote in the video’s caption, “100% of the shots I didn’t take, I’ll miss.”
In a text overlay, he mentioned the waitress’ burn with a sarcastic comment: “‘The worst thing she could say no to.'” Yes, you’re trying to impress the woman you like. He was criticized for paying a low tip. It will be difficult to recover from that.
One TikToker commented: “Yes, your life is over.”
@pickitup.elijah 100% of the shots you don’t take are misses. #fyp #for you #fipsi #xybca #viral #trend ##relevant##relationship ♬ Original song – Pyonpyon
Some viewers wondered why he would ask a woman where her boyfriend was. Some claimed there was no room for the conversation to go forward at all after that comment, while others said they were “disgusted” to see him pursue her even though she said she had a boyfriend. Some people said, Universal signs that a woman isn’t interested, even if it’s not true.
Also, several people have posted long explanations as to why they are requesting access to the server. It’s generally a bad idea that they are on shift.
But the truth is, servers are there to leave a good impression on the table while having an enjoyable dining experience, so the “extra” kindness is probably just them doing their job. If you want to check if the server is down after work, please leave your phone number. The story of rejection that arises from them seems much gentler than the one experienced by Elijah.
The Daily Dot reached out to IHOP via email and Elijah via comment on TikTok for more information.
*First published: December 11, 2023 at 1:08pm CST
jack alban
Jack Alban is a freelance journalist for the Daily Dot, covering relationship trends and social media topics and how real people are reacting to them. He strives to create not-so-average viral posts by always incorporating evidence-based research, current events, and facts relevant to these stories.
