AITA for tipping $0.25 after terrible service and food?

Some people tip like it’s part of the job, even when the job goes sideways. This Redditor did not.

They went to a breakfast spot that wasn’t “cheap,” waited forever just to get seated and place an order, then sat through a two-hour wait for food that arrived looking wrong, tasting worse, and triggering a medical reaction. The eggs were literally spread all over the top. They sent it back after the first round, but the remake came cold, with a smaller portion, and zero seasoning. On top of that, they say the counter interaction was basically nonexistent, even after paying, while the waitress was also the cook and the manager.

So when they left a $0.25 tip and a rude note, the whole table turned into an argument about whether that was punishment or justice.

Original Post

This morning I went to a nice breakfast place, not cheap but nowhere near considered an "expensive" restaurant where I'm from. I'm an American, so I'm well aware of the tipping culture, so keep that in mind.

Basically, I waited 50 minutes to be seated, then waited 25 minutes to order, than 2 hours for food.

I waited so long for my food, and when it came, I had to pay for shite food.

It had eggs splayed all over the top. Note: I get reactions to eggs, which include throwing up, and extreme dizziness, and horrible fatigue.

I sent it back for 45 minutes for it to come back cold, with half the portion size, and with no seasoning. I ate it, not wanting to send it back a second time, and left a $0.25 tip, a rude (but not explicit) message, and I put the quarter in a water glass (full) and put the message under the cup.

I paid and left, and I don't know the result.

I wouldn't have done anything like I did if they apologized and made better, but they didn't, and they didn't even acknowledge my presence at the counter to pay for 5 minutes.

So am I the A*****e? H****r himself?

**P.S.** I realize I didn't add the full story. There were only about 6 people working, and none of the cooks were present.

My waitress was also the cook and Manager, so I don't know what that info adds to the judgement.

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This chaos feels like a Thanksgiving standoff where someone refused to host after a family feud.

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At the two-hour mark, waiting for eggs that OP says made them sick, the $0.25 decision starts to feel less random and more like a last straw.

When the remake came back cold, half the portion, and unseasoned, OP still ate it, then dropped their note and quarter under a full water glass.

The part that really stirs the comments is that OP claims nobody acknowledged them at the counter for about five minutes, even though they were there to pay.

And since OP says the waitress was also the cook and manager, it’s hard for commenters to separate “terrible service” from the people actually running the place.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Share your perspective in the comments below.

OP might be getting grilled for the quarter, but that breakfast sounded like a full-on disaster.

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