Servers discuss their restaurant regulars who tip them ‘exorbitant’ amounts: ‘[Post Malone] tips more than anyone I've ever heard of’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jan 23, 2026 5:00 PM EST

A generous tip from a customer has the potential to make or break a server's shift.

The restaurant industry is very unforgiving, especially for front-of-house employees who receive most of their income from customer tips. Having been a server myself for three years in college, I can safely say that a Saturday night with some bar regulars would generate most of my income for that specific week. You flash the customers a smile, talk to them the way you would a good friend, and give them the service they deserve. You just might come back with a 50% tip from Gary, who comes into the restaurant every Tuesday with his wife, Sharon.

Tipping culture has left a sour taste in many customers' mouths. Tipping has indeed become the norm in certain industries or roles. Certain employees are not providing an extra "service" to their customers, yet you'll still see them turning around the POS system with tipping percentages ranging from 20%-25%. Forgive me if I don't want to tack on an extra 20% to my clothing purchase…

But, when it counts, tipping is a pretty cool thing to do. You're paying for excellent service, and servers want to know that their expertise is appreciated. What separated a good tip from a great tip? Well, do you serve students in your local college town, or do you serve Post Malone every weekend? Everything is relative…

Restaurant industry insiders give us the scoop on their best tippers, including a cameo from one server who boasts about Post Malone's generosity. Scroll below to restore your faith in humanity.

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  • customer holding restaurant menu and talking with his waitress
    via Curated Lifestyle For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "Does anyone else have a ‘whale’ customer that tips them exorbitant amounts of money? How do you feel about it?"

    I have a regular who has been coming in weekly since around last October. His very first visit he tipped a flat $200 on a $65 order.
    via aSixFourAlpaca
  • Ever since, he asks the hostess specifically for me and will tip me anywhere from 150%-300% every.
    via aSixFourAlpaca
  • single. time. The largest single tip was $250. Okay, on one hand I'm obviously very thankful and appreciative.
    via aSixFourAlpaca
  • I give him my best and go above and beyond whenever he comes in and show my utmost appreciation.
    via aSixFourAlpaca
  • However, on the flip side it's kind of strange and I almost feel... idk... guilty in a sense.
    via aSixFourAlpaca

  • Odds are, if a customer is deciding to tip you a large amount, your service was great, they are feeling extra generous, or they simply have the cash to spend. Not everything has an ulterior motive attached to it, although we can't disregard that food service has a few rascals who think a 25% tip gets them access to a server's phone number…

    Our take? A tip is a tip, and so long as the cash is distributed to you, take it for what it is! That seems like the common consensus in this forum, and there are a few takes from customers speaking to the wholesome nature of their generosity.

  • Like what did I do to deserve this? The first time it came as a complete shock, but now it's a recurring theme and its kinda like...
    via aSixFourAlpaca
  • what's your schtick dude? Where is this going? What's the punchline? I've just not had this happen in 5 years of serving, so I don't really know how to take it.
    via aSixFourAlpaca
  • Does anyone else have this experience? Stories to share?
    via aSixFourAlpaca
  • Nautiwow Had a lady tip me well above. norm back in the 90s. Everytine she would come in, she would ask to sit in my section. One day I asked her why and she explained that I looked like her son who had passed away. The ninjas in the backroom started cutting onions about that time. I told her she didn't need to tip and that I would be happy to sit with her and talk if she wanted. We talked often until 2000 when she passed.
    via Nautiwow
  • Ebb-and-Flow88 I worked at a coffee shop 18 years ago. There was a neurogist who owned an office the next building over. We had accounts for customers where you could add money, pretty much a gift card attached to an account. He'd load up the account so his staff could come in and get coffee/ pastries. He'd tip 100 everytime he'd load it up. He'd also give very generous tips when he'd grab his own order. He was one of the most genuine and kindest man I've ever met in my life.
    via Ebb-and-Flow88
  • customerservicevoice Yes. Young (35) guy. Has a business down the street. Tips everyone $50 every time. His checks are $16. He comes in every day.
    via customerservicevoice
  • bigexplosion Robert came in 5 days a week and tipped 100$ every time. Sat at the same table every day ordered the same 2 or 3 things. Great dude, but the drama to get assigned that table in your section was exhausting.
    via bigexplosion
  • Past_Albatross3356 Post Malone. He's come to the restaurant I work at a few times and tips more than anyone I've heard of. He's also very kind and friendly!
    via Past_Albatross3356
  • post malone song playing on a phone
    via Dimitris Chapsoulas for Unsplash
  • vodiak Do not tell your coworkers about this. It will only create problems.
    via vodiak
  • AggressiveHornet229 I'm that customer, but I don't ask for the specific server. I just ended up with the same one often because I was always in on the same day/time, and now it seems to happen with few (if any) exceptions. I think she told the hostess to put me with her whenever I come in (based on the hostess' greeting once or twice), which I appreciate. For whatever it's worth, I understand some of the cynical comments here, but I don't want anything from this person. I grew up poor and am for
    via AggressiveHornet229
  • jayellkay84 I was mainly kitchen at a fast casual Mediterranean restaurant. NFL running back was a regular- and I mean daily if we didn't run out of soup - customer. We took care of him (saving the last two soups of the day) and he took care of us. I never rang him up but the main FOH people said he tipped the bill.
    via jayellkay84
  • SadExperience340 Yes.. I used to call him my "Wednesday Boyfriend"... We are married now 13 years later
    via SadExperience340
  • Excellent_Speech_901 He is using tipping for it's proper purpose in a world where it has become so expected that a normal tip means nothing. He has insured that he consistently has a server he knows will do her best and beyond. That's a better way to burn money than many others.
    via Excellent_Speech_901

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tips workplace-stories server server life service industry
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