r/MadeMeSmile • u/Alternative-Dot-34 • 2d ago
Wholesome Moments Man Apologizes for Ordering Food Just Before Closing and Receives a Heartwarming Surprise.
A sick customer in Australia ordered pasta shortly before a restaurant closed, leaving a note apologizing for the late order and letting the staff know they could cancel it if it was too much trouble.
Instead, the restaurant surprised him with free garlic bread and a handwritten message wishing him a speedy recovery.
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago edited 1d ago
What the fuck this is me, I have all the receipts bro hold on
https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/s/tkP55H78jf my original post like a week after this happened and I first read the review the dude left for me
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
This was when I worked at a pizza place here where I still live in Brisbane
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
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u/LamarjbYT 1d ago
Damn wtf, crazy to see you at the bottom of the comment section. How does it feel seeing your own story at the top of Reddit?
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
It’s cool, it pops off every now and again across different social media’s, the fact that over 70k people upvoted this is crazy high though I never thought it was to that level go good, god damn.
we just had a spare garlic bread that had gone through the oven just before the order some through but it was a a mistake so it was a spare and was just sitting there, one of us was gonna eat it but that last order came though so I just chucked the garlic bread back in the oven to get it nice and heated again and chucked it in with the order with the note to make him smile cause his note about apologising for ordering so late was so sweet
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u/JodieGorgeous730 1d ago
The fact that you didn't have to do it but chose to anyway makes it even sweeter.
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u/yougotyolks 1d ago
I worked at a pizza place and when something got messed up (wrong toppings, wrong shape, sauce amount, etc) and we had to remake it, we'd give the customer both items as a thank-you for their patience. But if they got an attitude, it went to the delivery drivers.
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u/geezanjisangeezan 1d ago
Okay that make sense now Australiaaaa. I cant figure if it was British cause it had xx at the end of the text then the receipt is $? Haha
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u/Powerful-Two5444 1d ago
Unexpected AMA.
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
Lmao. If anyone wants to ask anything they can but I just think it’s nice that so many people get to see a really kind interaction between 2 strangers and give people a smile reading it knowing that there’s still kindness out there
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u/BigPhatHuevos 1d ago
I was a line cook for a few years many years ago, and I'd make that person a meal up to help them feel better. It's a small thing we can do to help them feel better.
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u/Powerful-Two5444 1d ago
Yes, given what’s happening in the world RN, I want to see more of this.
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u/HistoricalMaybe1739 1d ago edited 17h ago
Sad to see that you got only 18k upvotes and the karma farmer got 100k+
Edit : it's 127k now wtf
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
ikr, fucking brutal lmao, oh well
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u/HistoricalMaybe1739 1d ago
Reddit needs to do something about this, posting someone's story as a new post without linking original post should not be allowed
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
yeah i mean, on one hand id have LOVED over 100k upvotes on one of my posts of something i did but on the other hand, it is only reddit and not real life so oh well. Id have liked to have that much karma and upvotes to my name but oh well, can only smile on the fact that so many more people have seen something i did a couple years ago and just hope and pray that it made some folks smile
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u/arrozcongandul 1d ago
you're seriously so goated for this ty so much for doing this these small acts of kindness are every thing in this day and age for real
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u/Alternative-Dot-34 1d ago
Heyyy it's really you! Thank you for commenting! It's the first time the original person from the story I posted has commented on my post. Damn it feels so good hahaha! Also Thank You for Being Kind :))
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
not a problem! Cheers for sharing it again but I must ask cause im dying to know, just HOW did u find the story? I happened late 2021 when i first posted it and i see it pop up every now and again across various platforms but im dying to know how you found it
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u/Alternative-Dot-34 1d ago
Was scrolling thru Instagram and this post randomly popped up from a page called (Pubity). You can check it out I think it was posted yesterday or so sum.
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
Holy fuck over 280k likes, god damn I never would have thought that many people would’ve liked it that much, how cool!
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u/SinisterBrit 2d ago
was an unofficial rule where I worked in retail
come in raging n demanding your rights, n you'll get just that.
be kind, calm n ask politely for an issue to resolved n we will go above n beyond.
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u/FILTHBOT4000 2d ago
My favorite moments in hospitality (chef for over 20 years) are when I can take care of someone that's just having a terrible day. I know I'm meant for the job, because something is wired in my head that if a customer is at first snippy or difficult, as long as I have the time, I'll go above and beyond to try and remedy their mood. Sometimes people are just natural assholes, and I just have the FoH remember they're a problem customer... but there are also plenty of times they just are going through absolute hell, and need someone to show deep kindness in a setting where hospitality is the point, after all.
People are just people, and if you can be there for someone who's having a really tough time, and get paid for it, that's everything. I've almost always worked in closed kitchens, so I usually don't get to see the results (or get paid the tip), but oh well.
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u/xtothewhy 2d ago
This happened to me some years ago. Was missing home and couldn't find a certain dish I wanted at a small restaurant and was upset and grouchy in general. They looked at me and calmly talked to me, basically suggesting I try to enjoy a meal (that simplifies it but it was very helpful in the moment what was said) and I did just that. Had a breathe in and breathe out moment, and had a very good meal, and thanked them profusely for their kindness. And I will never forget them for that.
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u/Chaseybacon 2d ago
You were the Richie of The Bear - you just wanted to make it special for someone because that's what it's all about!
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u/redditsellout-420 2d ago
Yep, i can't tell you how many times I intentionally left security tags on things because people were being asses, or the register mysteriously shut down and we had to start over at a fresh one.
I also can't tell you how many times i stayed on the phone with other stores coordinating item transfers because a customer asked, or helped them resolve issues with their bank because their cards weren't working.
You give nice you get nice.
You be a ass, i waste your time.
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u/AerwynFlynn 1d ago
I remember when I worked at a bookstore a mom and her young teenage daughter came in. The daughter was distressed because she needed a book for school for a project that was due in a few days, but they didn’t have it at her school library or local library. Unfortunately we didn’t have it in the store either. They were so nice and the girl was so genuinely upset that not only did I call every sister store in the area, but I also called the competition and several other libraries. Finally found a copy at a library 45 mins away who agreed to hold it for them. The look of relief on the girls face made it worth the time and effort.
Meanwhile another woman came in screaming that she had ordered a book and she hadn’t received a call about it coming in. It wasn’t in our ordering binder (yay for the 90’s!). She proceeded to call me a bunch of names and told me to check again. When I said it still wasn’t there, She admitted that maybe she got the store location wrong (town A vs town B vs town C) and demanded I call all the sister stores in the area to find out which one she ordered it from because she didn’t feel like doing it herself.
Wouldn’t you know it? The phone wasn’t working just then. Pesky things always going out at the oddest times 🤷♀️
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u/whim_sea 1d ago
The fact that you remember this from the 90s speaks volumes to that woman’s character
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u/CanAhJustSay 1d ago
Sounds like my phone which cut out if anyone started shouting or swearing at me. Funny thing, that.
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u/Bosco215 2d ago
I work at a big box hardware store that also has a website. The amount of times the customer orders something online and they screw up the order is unbelievable. I will go out of my way to help and fix their screw up until they start yelling or belittling me. Then it's here's the websites customer service number. Try them, good luck.
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u/MrMooey12 1d ago
I work at an auto parts store and one time this lady put an online order for some shocks through and an hour or so after she picked them up her husband came in all pissed we “sold his wife the wrong parts”. It brought me immense joy to pull up the online order and show him that we in fact had no part to play in it beyond grab what was on the receipt. He quickly shut up and apologized
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u/ItchyDoggg 2d ago
an* ass.
Waste my time now please!
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u/ModishShrink 2d ago
Hey now, that person could be Jeremy Clarkson.
"a ant, an Ferrari," etc
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u/AceofKnaves44 2d ago
I worked in a bar for four years and one of the managers/bartenders told me if anyone ever used the words “please” “thank you” and “may I” all together in an order they would get their drink free on account of manners and proper politeness and respect shown. He says he’s never actually had anyone ever do it though.
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u/WrongWorldAgain-7 2d ago
My autistic ass always orders with all of those and I've never gotten a free drink 😞 the world is so unfair 😔
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u/AceofKnaves44 2d ago
Hey same. One time when I was getting my passport I was dealing with really rude postal employees and chose to respond by killing them with kindness and politeness and I got told I was raised right and given fridge magnets and stuff. So that’s something?
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u/WrongWorldAgain-7 2d ago
I would have walked out of that post office with such a mixed bag of feelings if I were you 😭
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u/metalissa 1d ago
Me too, also autistic. Although I never expect anything I just want the other person to have a nicer day.
I hope you get your free drink one day!
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u/GiggleGoblin 2d ago
I’ve been using “please” “thank you and “can I”
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u/8200k 2d ago
"I don't know. Can you?"
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u/Random-Rambling 2d ago
"Well, I can't walk into the kitchen and get it myself, now can I? If you're finished the grammar lesson, may I PLEASE order something?"
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u/kollectivist 1d ago edited 1d ago
I use all of them, and I never get free drinks. On the other hand, it means my grandmother doesn't come back and haunt me, so I call that a win.
EDIT: Oooh, thank you very much for the award, u/Sarcasm_Becomes_Her
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u/Vinnie_Vegas 2d ago
if anyone ever used the words “please” “thank you” and “may I” all together in an order they would get their drink free on account of manners and proper politeness and respect shown. He says he’s never actually had anyone ever do it though.
Maybe that's because it's not the 1890s and people don't use the phrase "may I" in common parlance anymore.
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u/Bad_Funny 2d ago
If this is true, methinks I must be from the 1890’s. I know I’m a 90’s kid, but apparently I had the century wrong.
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u/LarryDavidntheBlacks 2d ago
I am constantly being hooked up at restaurants and stores, simply because I recognize the humanity of the employees, that they probably hate the company and that everyone likes a joke or pleasant conversation while working. It's really as simple as treating people as we want to be treated. Especially in the era of Karens, fascists and influencers.
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u/VermilionHackensack 2d ago
As someone who worked in the restaurant industry for many years, I always remembered the kind patrons and would constantly hook them up with a free appetizer, free drink, etc if they ever returned. If people were assholes, you get the bare minimum and we tried getting you at as quickly as possible and we forgot about you instantly.
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u/Rosian_SAO 2d ago edited 1d ago
When I worked at a Greek place with froyo as their most popular item, I'd have the gamut of customers (I got stolen from three times!!) but there was this one lady I met only once. She wanted cherries, and since I was told she was a regular I put a lot more than normal. She voluntarily paid extra for them, and she even called over the manager to tell me that I was so sweet and I should get a raise! I never got that raise and I never saw her again, wherever you are cherry lady I hope you're having a ball
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u/PhantomAngel042 1d ago
Probably a typo, but you're looking for "gamut" (a full range of things), not gambit. A gambit is a strategic move that usually includes a risk.
But I loved your story and I love Cherry Lady. May you always keep your kind heart.
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u/soullessginger88 2d ago
There's a few reasons why business dried up when I quit bartending, and it's not just because I had a heavy handed pour. I had bar regulars that would cuss someone out for me if they got out of line.
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u/PaperIndependent5466 2d ago
I go to a bar like that the staff are great but watch out for the regulars if someone got out of line. Glad to see other people sticking up for each other.
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u/soullessginger88 2d ago
I had someone whistle and snap their fingers at me. That got shut right the fuck down quickly.
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u/Ariandrin 2d ago
When I was in hospitality, I made a special effort to note which regular guests liked what, and for the ones who treated us nicely, I would bend over backwards to try to make it happen for them.
I didn’t treat the mean people less, but I definitely treated the nice people better.
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u/Nickr92 2d ago
The golden rule. Treat others the way you, yourself would like to be treated. It's something we should all do in our lives and many don't. It's a shame.
Thank you for being a kind human.
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u/PaperIndependent5466 2d ago
100% this. I find usually the issue wasn't caused by the person in front of me and it's an easy fix or something they have no control over. Just be nice and problem solved.
I was at a McDonalds once and asked for extra sauce, poor kid looked so nervous telling me it was 50 cents extra. I said I guess some people don't like that, he'd been yelled at more times than he could count over something he had zero control over.
The world isn't ending over 50 cents just take it or leave it like an adult.
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u/OrganicHistorian2576 2d ago
And if there is a problem for me as the employee it is much much less stressful if the customer stays calm and lets me work the problem.
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u/Same-Suggestion-1936 2d ago
Used to do that job and frequent the jobs of others when I wasn't working.
It is so goddamn easy to get people to give you free shit. Being a regular is easy, literally just show up. The. You be incredibly nice, respectful, etc (well not incredibly, just incredibly by some standards), clean up after yourself, respect hours (like OP, a simple "nah I don't need another beer, you guys are trying to go home" goes a ways, also close means everyone is out of the restaurant and the doors are locked not the last minute you can walk in), and tip well, it takes like a week or two of that before they're your friend and maybe another month before they start giving you free stuff just because of how much money you spend and they think you deserve it anyway because they've never had a single word to say about you other than "awesome customer"
I mean it does help if you're just comfortable with the automatic camaraderie food service employees have together but honestly we all got that way by doing everything I said above. Don't be an Austin, last guy I remembered was an asshole I worked with, I wouldn't buy a drink for if a gun was held to my head. Guy was a delivery driver who would order food like every night of the week and not tip his delivery driver. Also just a general prick and that's saying something in food, you're not an asshole, that would be fine, you're an insufferable asshole. I suffer plenty of assholes but you are special and not in the fun way
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u/iwantkrustenbraten 1d ago
Just a couple of nights ago a new Onigiri store opened and I got 2 extra Onigiri on my order. Just because i was being kind, polite, and tried to help manage the crowd a little. It's really fun being kind
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u/RilohKeen 2d ago
I used to be a manager at Target, and I once closed the store on the day before Thanksgiving. I had just turned my key in the lock and turned away from the door when I heard pounding on it. I turned around and saw a woman in sweatpants and a sweater with tears streaking through her makeup and she wailed, “I’m so stupid, I ruined Thanksgiving, I forgot to get his favorite things,” and she fell to her knees on the sidewalk. I opened the door and asked if she was OK, and she gave me a brave smile and said, “yes, it’s my fault, I let the shopping slip my mind, but I know you have families to get home to and you’re closed.” I offered her a hand up and told her she was the last Guest of the day and let her in, and she started crying all over again. Got all her stuff though, and she told me I saved the day, but I told her she was the one doing all the work.
If she had taken an aggressive or demanding attitude, I would have left her out there in a heartbeat, but I think most people in service industries just love a chance to really make a difference for someone who is not an asshole about asking for it.
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u/bagelsandstouts 2d ago
So sad to think of what the consequences might have been for her if you hadn’t let her in. I’m so glad you helped her out that day. I hate to think of what happened to her the next time she angered whoever “he” was. Thank you for what you did.
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u/New-Tour-9451 2d ago
Yup. Way back in my retail manager days if you came in and were kind to our team, explained your situation, and worked with us, we would absolutely do everything we can to help. You come in treating the team like trash? I’m going to lecture you on how to talk to people before even trying to do the bare minimum for you.
One small exception was when someone called because a delivery driver dropped a brand new, special order shove right on their driveway from the truck and tried to lie about it. She got to me and I could tell she was emotional on the phone, but she said “I feel bad because I am going to yell at you but I’m just so upset.” And so I let her yell at me, while she kept saying sorry, and then she calmed down and let me explain what I could do for her. Because of that, she got her new stove as quick as possible, with a huge extra discount. I get that people get emotional and upset sometimes, and it isn’t right, but I appreciated the pause and the self awareness.
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u/Stillbornsongs 2d ago
If people are doing it appropriately, I have no problem letting them vent and get it out. Especially if the reason is reasonable. We all have emotions and sometimes that shit just needs to come out.
There is a big difference between being frustrated at the situation and being frustrated at a person ( who likely has no control over the issue). Most people dont seem to understand you can be frustrated and angry but still show respect.
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u/Karnewarrior 1d ago
"I'm sorry if I come across as snippy and disgruntled, but it's taking quite a lot of effort not to kick a hole in my wall."
Literally one sentence is all it takes to go from one of many assholes to someone just having a bad time. Unfortunately, a lot of people are taught to suppress or deflect their emotions, instead of express them in healthy ways.
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u/Embellishment101 1d ago
A simple sentence along the lines of „I know you are obviously not personally responsible for this, I am just frustrated at the situation“
is like a magic spell when dealing with customer service. If you say it, you can often notice such a shift from defensiveness to empathy.9
u/SunshineAlways 1d ago
Some time ago, I was dealing with a messed up situation over the phone, and literally told the representative “I just want you to know, I’m not upset with you, I’m upset with the situation.” She told me she had just finished with a tough call, and appreciated me saying that. She talked to her supervisor and got my situation dealt with.
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u/neverbeenstardust 2d ago
My job is generally really chill and laid back so I have a lot more battery available for nonsense than most people here, but one thing I enjoy is someone coming in clearly heated about something that got messed up and they're visibly upset but also like trying not to take it out on me like "Sorry I know this isn't your fault but" and then I get to sweep in with the "Okay, let me see what I can do" [something that definitely isn't in the regulations] "There that's never gonna be a problem for you again".
Like if you're trying to make my day worse, I will not let you. If you're just having a bad day, trying to make it better is a delightful little puzzle box.
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u/DigitalWraithToly 2d ago
You know, that last one is something I’d weirdly appreciate. If you’re mad and need to let it out because you’re frustrated I absolutely can help you with that even if it’s technically not written anywhere on my job description. That’s weirdly refreshing to hear.
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u/DoesntMatterEh 2d ago
It's such a simple concept that SO many people are incapable of grasping.
Be fucking kind. It's not difficult.
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u/Thedran 2d ago
People don’t realize that they aren’t the only customer I deal with all day. If you come at me
with attitude, try to strong arm me or try pulling weight then the conversations already over and I’m already checked out of helping you beyond what I’m obligated too. Flip side, I will sit there with a nice man who knows he has a language problem for 15-20 minutes on a nothing sale because he’s treating me like a human being so I’m gonna do the same.We aren’t robots, treat service workers like you would want someone treating your family. I can promise you it gets you way more in the long run
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u/RYzaMc 2d ago
Its funny how so many people just dont understand kindness.
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u/NaturalBornGhost 2d ago
In my experience as a support work, it's thousands upon thousands of micro interactions where they perceive themselves as being hard done by.
Whether they are or not doesn't matter in the first instance. Imagine the most neurotic, selfish, self-centered person you know had to be that way to protect themselves? It's all coping mechanisms.
This person likely had an experience that humbled them about people's time, so they're very grateful for it. But imagine no-one even regards you as being alive, and the only self worth you feel is when you eat a subway sandwich, because that's what your mother got you every Monday after softball, before she topped herself on your tenth birthday.
We're all going through it. No excuse, just the reason.
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u/Own-Ice-2309 1d ago
Man I've come across a lot of kind people!!!! I used to drive flatbeds! I got stuck on I35 northbound from Austin to Dallas. Lil ol lady stopped to help me. I don't remember exactly what was wrong with the truck but this lady had her middle-aged son fix my rig.. and I remember he had to climb under the truck.. it was a small fix. But he had the fittings and tools. They also took me home, fed me and let me shower.... true story... it was also cold out too.
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u/EarthboundMoss 1d ago
Blows my mind and immediately makes me dislike ANYONE is they're rude to people helping them. I dated a girl who did it and gave me the ick so quick I couldn't recover. Just be fucking nice to people JFC
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u/Efficient-Cherry3635 2d ago
I wish more people understood this philosophy. The vast majority of people are good, kind people who wouldnt mind going the extra step if they felt valued and appreciated. On the reverse, even doing the bare minimum can feel tedious when you feel unappreciated or "less-than".
When I was younger (like 10ish), my best friends father caught me and his son talking smack on a video game and imparted a valuable lesson. "Treat every person as if they're your most loved family member, and every place like its that family members home." If you wouldnt be doing what your doing or saying what your saying to you mother/father/grandparents/or child you got no business saying it to anyone else.
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u/dylan88jr 2d ago
i did over night security at a strip mall. and i would go out of my way and bend as many rules to any of the unhoused in the area that were generally nice and respectful to me ( i understand people have bad days so if they lashed out occasonally it didnt hold it against them if they were generally nice) i would let them sit inbetween patrols even tho i was supposed to removed them as soon as i saw them loitering on cameras if they were in a spot were cameras couldnt see and it was out of the way for me to even notice them ( edge of property near a bush) i would let them sleep/stay there as long as they didnt cause any issues. but if they were constantly jerks i didnt give much leeway. you get your standard i need you to clean up and leave warning then police were called. or depending on the person just police with out warning because they caused issues as soon as they saw me. and the amount of times i have had the unhoused that i am nice to help me when i needed the group they were with to leave or calm people down or defended my actions when others lashed out at me. tldr being nice to people really helps and i wish there were not so many jerks.
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u/SplatterMyBrainzz 2d ago
I need to start being like this, I work in a kitchen, it’s my responsibility to distribute the extra chicken nuggets to those who deserve it
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u/litgirrl 2d ago
I find this works for other situations too. I've had a couple issues with flight delays and cancelations and being polite and kind to airport and flight staff made resolving it a lot easier! I wish everyone could experience working in some form of customer service to better appreciate how challenging it is.
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u/neverbeenstardust 2d ago
I had a life changing revelation once on a really bad flight where I got stuck in line for 45 minutes before I could even talk to the nice lady at the desk while flying alone and underage in a foreign country and as I got to the front of the line, three thoughts hit my brain at once.
1) I am so frustrated I just want to yell
2) I want to get on my plane and go home
3) If the nice lady at the desk is dealing with me yelling at her, she is doing that instead of helping me get on my plane and go home
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u/litgirrl 2d ago
More people need to have revelations like this! I've never regretted being kind but I have definitely regretted the odd time where I did lose my temper on someone who didn't deserve it.
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u/rdcpro 2d ago
Lol, so true. I got upgraded to first class after being booted due to overbooking.
I calmly explained why I needed to be on the flight, being very nice about it. Another guy was at the counter behind me, very loud and very angry.
The person helping me asked if she could handle the other guy first, and I smiled and said of course.
Once she sent him packing, she came back to me and booked me first class, giving me a big smile as she handed me my boarding pass.
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u/im_lazy_as_fuck 2d ago
I feel like this goes beyond just the service industry. I always go out of my way to help my coworkers when they're really polite to me, and are conscious of trying to impose as little as possible. But when people get abrasive and demanding, that's when I start giving obvious and minimal responses like "have you looked at the documentation".
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u/Knitsanity 2d ago
Hell to the yes. Many times I have had retail people go out of their way to help me out....probably helped by my calm respectful approach and effusive thanks and gratitude for their efforts.
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u/Very_Human_42069 2d ago
I legit gave things away for free when customers had issues and were polite. If they were an ass I’d give them the bare minimum and definitely didn’t comp anything at all
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u/burgerwithnoburger 2d ago
My graduation dinner ended up being later than expected at my favorite little Chinese place near my house. I think it was about 30mins before closing, and I felt so bad, because I had so many of my family members with me and no backup plan.
The people working were absolutely fantastic. They let us be the last in for the night and were so kind (our server was super funny too). I wanted to hurry it up bc they had cleaned everything around our table at some point, but our server said no worries. I worried anyways, but it worked out.
Still go there all the time and plan to for the rest of me living here. Still fantastic service and great food.
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u/sevinup07 2d ago
It's simple and it works. It's the strategy I've always applied but in the restaurant industry. It keeps the worst guests away and keeps the good ones coming back. It's how I always made my decisions as a manager and always made clear to my staff that is what I expect. Absolute superior, above and beyond service to anyone that walks in the door, but no one is expected to take any shit from rude guests and those guests will never be rewarded for bad behavior. Staff are empowered to give gifts and make exceptions as they see fit for very good guests.
Every place I've been it's made the staff feel supported and excited to work, it's made the guests better and more fun to be around, and has had no negative affect to the bottom line whatsoever.
It's a win win and it's dumb simple.
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u/Fortestingporpoises 2d ago
I feel like it’s one thing to order to go near the end of the shift. Another to dine in.
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u/KonaValencia 2d ago
Also I feel like we train people that they get things when they start yelling and demanding things. I take the opposite approach. If you are a dick about it, you get nothing. Ask nicely because something went wrong, we will make it happen.
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u/omgmuffinzlol 2d ago
it really is just treat others how you wanna be treated, its crazy how many awful people do not realize this
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u/Raudelramirez1 2d ago
I would eat at that place anytime , earned my business for sure
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u/Lucas_Steinwalker 2d ago
Not so sure about broiling the cheese on carbonara but they seem like very nice folks.
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u/wbishopfbi 2d ago
Sounds wonderful to me, but then I like genuine “grilled cheese” .
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u/itsbenactually 2d ago
Sounds sketchy, but I’m gonna try it before I knock it.
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u/moonchylde 2d ago
Having had some excellent crisped-top macncheese, I would definitely try this if given the opportunity and I don't usually eat carbonara.
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u/Lucas_Steinwalker 2d ago
Most people outside Italy don’t usually eat carbonara because what is served as carbonara usually isn’t carbonara.
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
It was a freshly made chicken carbonara poured into a bowl and sent though a pizza oven for a minute with pizza cheese on top of it so it was broil the cheese on top, it was delicious but not the best for you lmao
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
It was a small local place in the outer Brisbane suburbs, if u live in Brisbane I’ll send u the location lol
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u/andersonfmly 2d ago
It costs nothing to be kind.
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u/ryan516 2d ago
well, maybe the cost of a loaf of garlic bread55
u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
This is me that wrote the notes back in 2021, have all the receipts. TBH we had a garlic bread that was cooked but a mistake so one of us was gonna eat it but the order came through and his note he attached was so sweet I re-cooked the garlic bread and chucked it with his carbonara with the little notes I wrote him :)
So it was either one of us ate it and he got it and I left work knowing that he probably was extra happy when he got his order and then like a week later I saw the review and posted it to this same sub 4 years ago
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u/ryan516 1d ago
Oh man, I found the original post and yeah, that's you! Neat to hear the backstory!
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
It’s great seeing the original post and pictures get shared around, I see it pop off on a different social media platform like once every 4-6 months, there’s always the best and kindest comments on the posts :)
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u/VerdeMachina 2d ago
Which is Pennies
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u/ryan516 2d ago
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u/theironmountain16 2d ago
I've never seen someone link the wiki page to Joke and it's fucking killing me
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u/radicalelation 2d ago
It can cost sometimes.
Dude asked for a dollar at 7/11, said I had no cash, only card, and so he asked if I could get him a drink. Then snack. And as soon as the transaction cleared, he bolted, no words. I just said have a good day, and the cashier looked offended for me. Told her I was just trying to be nice, no biggie.
$10, but that's also worth being kind.
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u/78296620848748539522 2d ago
It would've still been kind if you had politely declined the $1. If would've still been kind if you had informed him that you weren't comfortable buying food for a random stranger you know nothing about. The kindness is not in the specific actions you take, but in the way you choose to view and treat others, which indeed costs nothing.
The red flags should have been raised the moment the person didn't accept your original answer. Even more so when it escalated from $1 to a drink and then a snack on top of that. The $10 cost wasn't for the kindness, it was the price for the lesson in being more skeptical of others' intentions.
What many people fail at is recognizing that lesson without it impacting their kindness.
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u/Hi-Standards 2d ago
The world has me so broken lately I started leaking just reading this, there’s still some real ones out there fighting the good fight.
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u/Melodic-Piccolo5751 2d ago
There are lots of good people, they're just not as loud or memorable as the shitty ones
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u/Agamemnon323 2d ago
This is a surprisingly insightful thought that explains why the internet sucks so much now.
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u/pmaogeaoaporm 1d ago
The internet specifically is also just built around toxicity.
They use this principle that bad experiences are more memorable to keep your attention and bring you back
So it basically became bad on purpose as soon as big corporations started fine-tuning retention and other bs metrics
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u/dasmean16 2d ago
Get this guy he’s a clanker! He’s leaking!
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u/Possible-Tangelo9344 2d ago
Sir, you're leaking coolant at an alarming rate
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u/linds360 2d ago
I run a little Etsy shop and donate all the profits to a local organization helping vulnerable community members navigate the horrors of the current administration (US based). Any time someone places an order and acknowledges the cause, they always get a little something extra from me - usually a bonus keychain or something cute.
Every time I do it the person leaves an awesome review and it helps generate more sales which means more $ to charity. Good begets good, man.
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u/BananasPineapple05 2d ago
This is the sort of situation where common sense prevailed. He knew he was cutting it short and acknowledged it. The staff at the restaurant had the appropriate human response.
Sometimes it doesn't take much to restore your faith in humanity, but here it is. ❤️
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u/REDPURPLEBLOOD2 1d ago
This was me back in 2021
https://reddit.com/link/phtopkn/video/wu4fpgn1gjwh1/player
It literally was just so nice and cute to read the message he attached with the order and tbh we had a spare garlic bread which we were gonna eat so I cooked/heated it again and put it with his order with the little notes to hopefully make him smile and 4 years later i still find my original post to this subreddit making the rounds lol
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u/My_Immortl 2d ago
There's a lot of shitty people out there, but theres way more good ones, just gotta treat em right. It costs nothing to be kind, people recognize that and return the kindness. Not something I always remember to do, but i try.
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u/Nightmare1990 2d ago
This post is a display of pure Australian mateship. Just be a good easy going person with realistic expectation and a polite attitude
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u/Crispy_p_bacon 2d ago
Clearly they put extra onions in the food coz I'm definitely not crying
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u/ephemeral_butterfly 2d ago
It's small little things like this that demonstrates the best of humanity.
I remember many years ago being 22 and inches from homelessness, going into a waffle house with a handful of change, hoping I could afford something.
The waitress overheard my brother and I counting up our change to figure out what we could afford. I think we could really only afford like a side of bacon for each of us 😅
She went around to everyone working, and gathered a donation of change for us, definitely without us asking. I tried to refuse (I got trauma issues lol). They didn't let me.
I felt such despair that night, and their kindness was something I never could've expected or asked for. I was able to order a proper meal because of their kindness, and life was so rough at the time, I cried with gratitude almost the whole time I was eating 😅😅😅
It made a huge impact on me that I still carry. I didn't expect help and felt desperate about managing things on my own. That was about the time I started to learn how to ask for help in healthy, beneficial ways.
Stories like OP's make my heart glow with joy
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u/eingy 2d ago edited 1d ago
I was fine reading everything else, just a little allergy in the air, but all the windows must have blown open when I read your comment because I don’t know what’s happening with my face 😭😭😭
What lovely people. It’s so wonderful that you carry that with you. I’m sure the woman would be so touched that you remember that. ❤️
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u/OkNectarine8304 2d ago
I have no idea why, but this struck a nerve for me too lol. Teared up a little.
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u/TriflePrestigious885 2d ago
I think we’re just being conditioned to see terrible things all the time so these simple, kind interactions make us really yearn for how things could be.
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u/spenway18 2d ago
Im a food/hospitality man myself and this got me too. He seems like such a nice chap and it really tugged at my heart seeing how kind the employees were ❤️
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u/wreeper007 2d ago
There have been multiple times when we have gone in a restaurant only to realize they were about to close and just turned around.
The couple times we didn’t have another option we always asked what won’t put them in a bind if we ordered.
Then again we are also aware of our surroundings and try to not stop in the middle of a walkway or walk down the middle of the aisle at Walmart like way too many do
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u/NowKith- 2d ago
This is awesome! Both parties who understand each other. The customer who understood that his request might have been a long shot and acknowledged it with empathy. The restaurant understood he wasn’t feeling well and didn’t act entitled.
Win Win all around. Bravo. 👏
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u/Potatoskins937492 2d ago
Most of the time I'll like a comment and keep on scrolling, but I looked at your name first.
I think there are two bravos here.
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u/TheBadBatch-99 2d ago
Chances are that guy worked in a restaurant at some point. Once you've done a few years in restaurants there are a handful of lessons you take away from it for dining out the rest of your life. They become standard operating procedure from then on out.
One is the above, try not to in right before close. Granted life happens to all of us and sometimes so being overly gracious and/or apologetic goes a long way.
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u/jerseygunz 2d ago
As a restaurant vet, can confirm. Honestly instead of mandatory military service we should make everyone work in a restaurant or retail for a year so you learn how to treat people
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u/TheBadBatch-99 2d ago
I made my oldest do it. She lasted two years and hated it. However she does have a huge appreciation for all the workers when dining out.
My youngest worked a couple years at a movie theater concession stand. Resaurant/ food service adjacent. So, similar experience and appreciation for food service people. Maybe not quite as intense as a restaurant but still dealing with rude people first hand.
It's great experience.
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u/AnthrallicA 2d ago
I spent over 10 years on the front lines of retail. I paid my dues and still can't hear cash register sounds without going into cold sweats.
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u/homotopy_equivalent 2d ago
I wish restaurants would have an official "order by" time and an official "closed" time. I want to be nice, but my autistic brain wants a rule. When is "right before" closing? Why do you allow me to place an order at a time when it would be inconvenient for you?
If you don't want me to order within 15 or 30 minutes before closing, just tell me that and I won't do it. I hate guessing if I'm too close or not
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u/TheBadBatch-99 2d ago
Honestly it depends on the flow of traffic. If you walk in and the place is deserted, it'll be frowned upon because everyone already started doing their closing/cleaning duties. If there's still plenty of people flowing in, it is what it is. The rush kept rolling along late, so no biggie. The staff is playing to the buzzer, if you will.
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u/BlacksmithRound2628 2d ago
Some restaurants in Germany have that sign you were describing.
Usually it's 1h - 2h before closing.
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u/FlameoHotmanTraveler 2d ago
These are the things we lose when chains and franchises dominate.
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u/CanadianDinosaur 2d ago
I mean... Nothing truly stopping that from happening at a chain aside from the right employee being in the right moment.
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u/fertilecatfish19 2d ago
that and the extremely strict rules that most chains have about giving away food.
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u/thesoulfield 2d ago
eh. i worked at a krispy kreme once. there was this guy who worked there who asked me if i knew how much the donuts cost to make. i guessed wrong. he said it was less than a penny for the ingredients. and i watched as he happily handed them out to people who just came to pick up a coffee. it really cost nothing and brightened peoples' days. so i started doing the same.
yeah management would've been pissed if they knew but who gives a fuck.
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u/CitizenHuman 2d ago
It will probably be the last meal they serve though. Chains seem to have a "to the penny" attitude on inventory.
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u/SpringSalt9288 2d ago
Real shit man. Used to run a mom and pop italian joint on the beach. You come in rude close to closing, see ya tomorrow big dawg.
You come in apologetic and just be straight with us “im drunk i need to eat” no problem, we were gonna take half of this home heres a couple slices.
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u/Sir-Benalot 2d ago
A note and free garlic bread and now a customer is singing your praises to the world.
Sometimes that’s all it takes.
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u/TheFinalJester97 2d ago
Man funny how this brings up a memory I hadn’t thought of in a long time. During the early stages of quarantine I was still living in my college apartment. All of my roommates had left to go home and I was completely alone. I would often order food from the pizza place across the street as it was one of the only places that stayed open. I would eat there maybe 3 or 4 nights a week and was one of their last regular customers.
One day, one of the managers started talking to me while I was waiting to pick up my food. She knew I was very obviously a college student and wondered why I hadn’t gone home yet. I explained that I didn’t have a car and my mom couldn’t drive the couple hours to pick me up and bring me home yet. That’s when she asked if I was alone. I just chuckled and said yeah it’s real quiet these days. She gave a half-hearted smile and went back to preparing my order.
When she called me over she had packaged a couple of free slices with my order and said to me “I have a son at home and couldn’t imagine how I’d feel knowing he is all alone in his apartment during a crisis. If you ever need anything just come over and ask. we’ll figure it out” Now I wasn’t really struggling at the time I kept in contact with a lot of friends online and my mom was sending me some cash to survive with, but that was the single most touching thing anyone had ever done for me. I remember going back to my apartment and balling my eyes out and I didn’t really know why lol. I’ll never forget that kindness and for a few years post college I always made it a priority to get back to that little pizza shop.
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u/tripleHpotter 2d ago
I love stuff like this- when someone acknowledges what they’re doing might inconvenience another, and that other person does something nice. Or just people being nice to each other in general. But an acknowledgment like that can really go a long way.
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u/saltporksuit 2d ago edited 2d ago
I was horribly sick once, nothing and I mean nothing would touch the miserable congestion I was having. I sent my spouse to the local Thai place requesting they make my soup Thai hot with extra veggies. The staff tried to argue with him that it was too hot for my pale ass until my husband explained I was very sick and couldn’t breathe. He said there was sudden quiet and nodding all around. I received a quart of demonic glory overflowing with vegetables and tofu that finally got the taps going. I’m pretty sure I entered another dimension. But they included a free mango sticky rice with a get well note. Damn right I patronized that place as often as possible before I moved.
Edit for you kitchen workers out there. I felt cared for. I was so grateful to that staff for whipping me up what I considered medicine at that moment. Y’all make a difference to people.
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u/teddynovakdp 2d ago
This is how the world should be. Cooperation, kindness, support. We’re stuck on a flying space rock ffs people. We’re all not getting off this thing alive. Let’s enjoy it
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u/Greedyfox7 1d ago
It’s always nice to find a place that goes the extra mile. I brought my parents to a Thai restaurant that I like and we’ve gotten to know the owner pretty well and we said something about taking the leftovers to my grandma who can’t cook for herself anymore ( and isn’t very mobile so we would have a difficult time bringing her with us) and this sweet woman told us to wait, went back in the kitchen and fixed another plate for my grandma so it would be fresh when we got it to her and refused to let us pay for it.
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u/ForensicFan24601 2d ago
had a couple come in 18 min before closing; before incould say anything the guy apologies, explains he’s a line cook and his girl is a waitress so they, get it, they’re so sorry, it’s just their anniversary. they’d be in and out in no time
went back, told the kitchen; free dessert, employee discount, bottle of (cheap) champagne on the house. and I was able to all my side work in the meantime. manager even gave them a couple lit candles all around the other tables for ambiance
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u/Tired_Lily28 2d ago
I was a regular at a joint across town; I'd always order spaghetti with meatballs as carry out. It was right by a grocery, so I'd call it in before shopping. I was known by my voice, area code, and order.
I lived far enough across town that it was reasonable to assume I wasn't in their delivery area (~25 minute drive). Yet, the one time I did ask because I felt awful, they delivered. Including free garlic knots.
I tipped generously. :)
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u/toodleroo 2d ago edited 1d ago
During covid, I was experiencing possible symptoms and didn't want to get anyone sick. I ordered from my favorite teriyaki place and put on the order that I was sick and they should bring out the bag and leave it on the hood of my car so there wouldn't be any chance I'd get them sick. They brought out my bag and it had an extra order of egg rolls and 3 packets of vitamin C drink mix. Sadly they decided to move their shop to another part of town too far away from me, otherwise I'd still be eating there once a week.
Edit: 206 Luster Grill in Lewisville Texas if you want huge portions of delicious teriyaki and katsu. https://206lustergrill.com/
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u/So_Falls_the_World 1d ago edited 1d ago
Someone is screaming internally at the "broiled cheese on top of 'carbonara'".
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u/PGDesolator 1d ago
Did they give some onions as well? Because my eyes are getting all watery here.
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u/abc123abd 2d ago
I have worked in restaurants most of my life and I still stand by this…
If a restaurant says they “close” at nine, that it should be understood that they just no longer take tables after nine.
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u/Mysterious_Owl_5771 2d ago
See...this isn't that hard to do and it makes everyone feel good. I can't understand why this is so difficult for some people. Being mean and hurtful to people isn't strength. It's uncalled for.
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u/suburban_provider 2d ago
Some folks are just miserable and can't stand seeing others not be, eh. That takes more energy than a simple smile, bud.
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u/high_on_meh 2d ago
Be nice to the people who make your food - I can't believe this is hard for some people.
EDIT - Of course, the more general "It doesn't cost anything to be nice" is more generally applicable.
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u/Desperate-Tomatillo7 2d ago
Meanwhile the people at the bakery I visit starts complaining in loud voice 30 minutes before closing time.
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u/angiestefanie 1d ago
We usually don’t seem to acknowledge outstanding and exceptional service online anymore. We should do this more frequently. Maybe it would change the behavior and attitude of some businesses who forgot how to provide excellent service. I will always make it a point to recommend a business or employee who went the extra mile.
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u/dr__paco 2d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah, if you close t 9:00 and is 8:45 im going to place my order lmao
However in my country there is 'stop taking orders time' and 'closing time', theres usually around 15-45 minutes between those two. I thought that was an universal thing.
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u/rav3lcet 2d ago
It's heard of but not common at all in the states. Restaurants serve food until closing time, but you're supposed to feel like a dick if you order within 30m or something
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u/theguiltandthegrief 2d ago
a lot of cafes and restaurants are run by people that don't want to pay staff to stay back late to pack up + clean, like my current job. if you get paid to work until 2pm, which is when the store closes to customers, you can bet your bottom dollar that employees will begin shutting the kitchen well before 1:30pm. it's unfair to customers yeah, but it's hard to care when you're up at 4:30am serving coffee before you can even take a morning shit lol
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u/Doctorwho32123 2d ago
Or maybe set a time that says that no new orders will be accepted past that time, and have it clearly listed.
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u/SpezIsABrony 2d ago
I feel the same exact way. I never understood my co-workers getting pissy about orders 10 mins before closing, dude we are still open…
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u/IsthianOS 2d ago
Quit restaurants a decade ago but I and everyone else wanted to leave to go party most of the time lol
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