WASHINGTON (WMAL) — A regular at a D.C. restaurant left staff with a shock, and a $2,000 tip.
The anonymous guest visited Blue 44 on Memorial Day because the executive chef James Turner had planned to make gumbo specifically for him.
“One of the hosts mentioned that he came in chanting, ‘Gumbo, gumbo, gumbo!’ so I guess he was like ready for it so it was a pretty cool thing,” Turner said.
After ordering $93 worth of gumbo, the patron left the $2,000 tip and instructions for how to split it. Turner received $1,000, bartender Laura Daly received $500 and owner Chris Nardelli received the last $500.
Turner said the man feels like a part of the restaurant and often discusses the food and beer selections with Turner and Nardelli. Turner added he would be willing to make him a private batch of gumbo.
“I’m more than willing to do that and it’s not just because of the tip; he’s just a really nice guy,” Turner said.
Turner was in the walk-in refridgerator when Nardalli came to show him the check.
“For all those times you get people that complain about things and say this is not right, this is bad and stuff like that,” Turner said, “stuff like this happens and it just kind of reassures you that what you are doing is — you’re doing something the right way, the way it should be done.”
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved.
