Waitress Tipped $1,000 by Her 'Guardian Angel' in Florida
— -- A Florida waitress got a huge tip that was more than 3,400 percent of her customer’s bill.
Kari Vanardoy was tipped $1,000 on a $29 bill at WingHouse in Largo on Wednesday, according to WingHouse general manager David Eschenfelder.
“I’m not used to having good luck like that. I thought it was $10 at first because that would have been a nice tip on that tab. But really it was two extra zeros,” the 22-year-old told ABC affiliate WFTS.
Vanardoy – who works two jobs and has been at WingHouse for five years -- lives in a studio apartment and will now be able to move into a larger apartment with her 2-year-old son and boyfriend thanks to the large tip, Eschenfelder said.
“The couple was inquisitive with her and just finding out bits and pieces about her life. She was beside herself when they said the tip was no mistake and tears started coming out of her eyes,” he told ABC News today.
The strangers ordered bottomless boneless wings, soda and blue cheese and hinted that they had left a tip as large as $500 in the past, WFTS reported.
“She actually told me she was my guardian angel if I ever need anything,” she told WFTS. “I didn’t do anything for them ever, so it was just a sweet act.”
Eschenfelder – who has been in the restaurant industry for upwards of 25 years – said he’s never seen anything like this and that it restores his faith in people.
“It was just an ordinary couple that wanted to make her happy,” he said. “You don’t find many people like that anymore. They just gave it to her out of the goodness of their hearts.”
Kari Vanardoy did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for additional comment.
