Did Serena Williams forget to tip waitstaff after being comped on a $400 bill?

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Serena Williams has been in New York for more than a week. She’s been resting up for the US Open, and she easily won her second round last night despite a nagging shoulder injury/pain that has apparently been affecting her game. Serena even came out for a hot minute last Sunday at the VMAs. She’s also been doing some events for her many sponsorships, etc. So, we’ve established that she’s been in NYC. Apparently, Serena went to a steakhouse last weekend. The steakhouse was so happy that Serena was there, they comped her entire $400 bill. And Serena was so thankful that she didn’t tip any of the waitstaff?

Serena Williams likes to be served, though tipping is another matter. The 34-year-old tennis star wowed patrons twice at Ricardo Steak House in East Harlem last weekend — first by showing up and again by allegedly not tipping her server after being comped a $400 meal.

Williams, arguably the best female tennis player to have ever picked up a racket, swung into the Second Ave. eatery with a seven-person entourage on Saturday night to fuel up for the U.S. Open. We’re told that the eatery’s owner was so thrilled to have Williams’ entourage there that he comped their entire bill. Much to everyone’s surprise — the wait staff in particular — Williams’ team showed their appreciation with a backhand smash.

“Not only did Williams not leave a tip, but she left without even saying thank you!” says one spy who was in the house when Team Williams committed the double fault. Getting comped at Ricardo’s is a pretty big deal, considering stars, including Knicks sharpshooter Carmelo Anthony and wife LaLa, are regulars there. Rapper Remy Ma is also a frequent visitor to the Harlem hotspot. While stars occasionally get a round of drinks on the house, we’re told that it’s very rare for management to pick up a $400 bill, which, according to our insiders, would have been the cost of Williams’ group’s tab.

A restaurant rep said “I can neither confirm or deny the incident” and asked that we didn’t write about it. Williams’ reps at ID-PR did not respond to our request for comment.

[From The NY Daily News]

My first thought is that if Serena was part of a seven-person group, she might not have realized that the meal was comped or that no tip was left, because someone else was supposed to pay? That being said, as I’m leaving a restaurant, no matter how many people are at the table, I always double-check and make sure that the tip is taken care of, even if I’m not paying. In fact, if someone else is paying, I always offer to leave the tip because I want to make sure the servers are getting some money. So… bad move from Serena? I know she’s probably busy/resting her shoulder, but she should send a friend or an assistant down to the steakhouse with some cash and an apology.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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44 Responses to “Did Serena Williams forget to tip waitstaff after being comped on a $400 bill?”

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  1. Piper says:

    I’m hoping this is just a simple misunderstanding. I had her on my flt a few years ago and she could not have been more gracious!

  2. Evil Queen says:

    Meh. This stuff happens. Its frustrating because celebs get so much special treatment almost anywhere they go that when they are cheap it is really insulting. Holding your four top for two hours so some celebrity couple can have a big comfy table for example.
    Been there done that.
    Now if you start hearing these stories repeatedly we have a problem.

  3. jeanpierre says:

    I don’t get the tip thing. I hardly ever tip.
    Edit: Didn’t see the “comped” part, sorry.

    • Evil Queen says:

      Service people pay taxes on their sales so if you stiff them they are paying to wait on you. Just so you know. And if we went to a no tip system you would pay more for your meal either way. So maybe learning what an appropriate tip is might be a good thing. Its really not rocket science.

    • OTHER RENEE says:

      You don’t tip, Jeanpierre?! Seriously?! Then you are a cheapskate and should be ashamed of yourself.

      • Gena says:

        She might not live in the states….in other countries wait staff are paid a fair wage and tipping is not encouraged.

      • Snarkweek says:

        Don’t call other commenters names. There’s a tip from me to you.

      • jeanpierre says:

        “cheapskate” made me laugh, it’s a funny Word. I don’t know what it means though. I Picture a poor quality skateboard

    • swak says:

      Most people who work as waiters/waitress make about $2.10/hour (at least where I live) and they rely on tips for the rest of their salary. PIus now the tips go into a general tip fund and are taxed and distributed evenly among all that worked that night. I always tip.

      • Caela says:

        @SWAK I’m intrigued, do you live in the US? This seems crazily cheap wage to live off if so!!

      • Angie says:

        Yes i only made 2.10 an hr too it’s common in most states for example TN, FL, SC and upstate NY. We work hard and tips we brought in pays our bill’s so they are appericated. So some need to realize we work because we have to and tips help pay our bills so dont just walk out!!!!!

    • jeanpierre says:

      Service is included in my country. You can tip anyway and it’s in good taste to do so but most of the time I can’t afford a tip on top of the full-priced meal. And of course you tip when something is offered, which is rare. I didn’t understand why people were getting so worked-up about the no tip thing because I wasn’t aware of that tax system. I do now. Please don’t yell?

      • Ariadne says:

        In a lot of restaurants when they say ‘service is included’ the service charge is used by the restaurant to pay the waiting on staff’s wages; it doesn’t go to them as a tip. They pool the service charges and pay the hourly rate out of that.

        It’s not fair on either the customer or the staff TBH; the customers think they are tipping (understandably so, I’m not blaming the customer here) so very few leave a tip. It’s a terrible system that a lot of restaurant chains (especially in London) are forced to use because running costs are absurdly high.

        When I worked in a London restaurant we were lucky it was in a wealthy area and so at least one or two tables would tip on top of the service charge. The tip went to the waiter who was responsible for that area and you shared only if you felt another member of staff had helped you a lot with that table; we were pretty religious about sharing when someone had helped us, but we had a new person pocket someone else’s tip once and they were removed from the rota the next week.

        I liked waitressing but I’m glad I don’t have to go through all that stuff anymore; it was awfully stressful.

        But now I don’t do this job anymore I only eat out if I can afford a healthy tip on top of the bill; there were so many times that the tips I got transformed my night and made a huge difference to my week that I feel I owe it in return.

      • jeanpierre says:

        Since I go a lot to the restaurant, often the same, as a professional obligation (but I pay for it myself, I’m a free-lance worker), I was thinking included service made up for the lack of tips but after reading your post, maybe I’m wrong. I’ll ask the waiter how it is, I know him a little now.

      • Red says:

        It’ funny that so many assume everyone is American.

    • doofus says:

      I gotta echo these other posts…

      do you really hardly ever tip? are you outside the US? because I know restaurants in other countries actually pay the servers a living wage and don’t encourage tipping, but in the US, servers make next to nothing in salary and count on tips to survive.

      if you’re in the US and dine out, please reconsider because you’re really screwing over your server if you don’t tip.

      ETA: ok, posted before I saw your last post. just remember, when you dine out in the US, make sure you tip.

      • jeanpierre says:

        I’ve never been in the US but when I do, I sure will remember.

      • doofus says:

        after this thread, I have no doubt – lol.

        but come visit! we’re not all like Drumpf!

      • jeanpierre says:

        I’m sure not! Well if US people elect him I will wait a few years to visit but this is not going to happen huh?
        I sure will read a guide before to avoid gaffes like today 🙂

      • doofus says:

        man, the differences in culture and what’s acceptable from country to country can really lead to some gaffes, I know…

        “but this is not going to happen huh?”

        from your lips to G-d’s ears, friend…

    • minime says:

      Calm down ladies, the reality is that most of us, non-Americans, can’t really grasp the obsession with the aggressive-tipping over imposing a minimum-wage.
      In most countries in Europe a tip is a tip…something you give to show your appreciation for the service.
      I live in an European country were is common (but still optional) even to tip for a 2,30€ Coffee…what I personally find a bit “meh” Still, I got used to it and almost always tip…although if I would do that in my home country people would laugh at my face. Of course I always inform myself before visiting a country what are their tipping rules, but even if it’s not common I’m always compelled to tip for a nice service (nice being smiling at me and answering my questions mainly). I hate those people coming from rich European countries that simply don’t tip anymore in countries where is not common because they don’t feel the society “imposition”…that’s not the meaning of a tip!
      Regarding USA I wish people would get more concerned in getting a respectable minimum wage than to force the tipping culture anyway.

      • Harryg says:

        I really dislike the tipping custom. I think the employer should pay the staff enough. And yes I know my meal would cost more, but I’d happily pay more to know the servers earn a normal wage. And before you attack me, yes I always tip since it is the custom here.

      • Tessy says:

        I don’t like the tipping thing either. People should just be paid a decent wage, of course the price of the dinner would go up but then people wouldn’t have to stress out over how much they should give, and the workers wouldn’t have to stress out over making enough to live on.

    • Annetommy says:

      Tipping waiting stuff is usual in the UK and Ireland, though I don’t know about other countries. It is not a good system, and is used by employers as an excuse to underpay staff, but nevertheless, I’ m not going to punish individual staff for that system, and therefore I do tip.

  4. Jade says:

    Why do super rich people get comped? Hook us broke people up, we would very appreciative

  5. doofus says:

    $400 for seven people at a steakhouse? a well known and high-quality steakhouse?

    when I went with the bf to one like that, the bill was about $200 just for the two of us.

    I don’t buy this story.

    • Sayrah says:

      Well yeah. A nice place would probably have $40 – $50 steaks, plus appetizers and drinks. It would definitely be ~$400.

    • doofus says:

      I’m not sure I’m reading your post right.

      just to clarify, I’m saying it would be MORE than $400, based on a cost of $200 for 2 people.

      sorry if I misunderstood your post!

    • KiddVicious says:

      I bet not everyone ordered steak nor wine. That’s the only way it could have been that cheap.

    • Redgrl says:

      Doofus – I was thinking that too. What did they order – appetizers? $400 for 7 people is under $60 a head – unrealistic in those places! Not to mention wine….

  6. manta says:

    Maybe a dinner at a steakhouse was a too big exception for this vegan and her brain was a little bit messed up, hence the mix up. (just finished the Venus post)
    All snark apart, even if they can ask for special meals (especially if you’re Serena Williams ), do vegans really feel at ease in a place meat oriented ? I’m only a vegetarian and have a hard time in them.

    • Brittney B. says:

      I’m a vegan and I’ve lived my entire life in a “meat-oriented” world, so no, it doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable to be surrounded by meat. But if there are animals’ severed heads on the walls, I leave. Beyond not wanting to patronize places that glorify killing, I feel too much grief for the animals every time I look up.

      But there’s almost always something on the menu, whether it’s a side salad or a pasta dish tossed with olive oil or a whole soup or sandwich that’s already accidentally vegan.

      That said, eating in vegan restaurants is an entirely different experience. I just moved to the Denver area after 25 years in Florida, and the feeling of being able to eat *anything* on the menu — and being surrounded by like-minded people and progressive artwork — is such a unique and refreshing and inviting experience.

  7. Sayrah says:

    Usually I say she can do no wrong but she should absolutely send a large tip to the waiter with a note saying she thought someone else took care of it (whether that’s true or not). It’s pretty classless to not tip at all especially when your entire meal is comped. You’d think she would have tipped at least $200 if her meal was totally free and worth $400.

  8. The Original Mia says:

    A story from a witness? Come on. Was he so nosy that he was watching Serena’s purse to see her pull out a credit card or cash and laid it on the table?

  9. Juniper says:

    God I hate tips. I don’t understand why places can’t just pay their servers a proper wage and we cna be done with all this tipping shit. Or charge more for the meals – we already are – what the hell is the difference. When you get villified on the internet the second you don’t’ tip enough these days – it’s basically extortion.
    And frankly – if an establishment decides to comp a meal – then why shouldn’t they include the tip in that comp?

    • Tara says:

      No they don’t. There’s no mechanism for that even. My brother is the manager of a restaurant and anytime I go there I don’t receive a bill. I not only tip, I tip about half of what I figure the bill would be. I way overtip. Out of consideration for my brother. I’m not there for the free food after all, and it makes my brother look good, and look, waitstaff have exhausting, low-paying jobs. It’s just the right thing to do.

    • Snarkweek says:

      Management makes the decision to comp or not so what does that have to do with the servers? They deserve to be compensated for their hard work, especially since many celebrities are notorious for being demanding and rude to waitstaff. Having said that I know there are lots of incompetent and rude servers out there who would be tent imes worse if they didn’t have to rely on tipss so the system really protects customers and makes dining out more enjoyable.

  10. holly hobby says:

    Well not only did she not leave a tip, she didn’t even thank the staff or management. What the heck is that all about?

  11. Marlene says:

    Pics or it didn’t happen.

  12. Red says:

    Why do business owners always comp the meals of those that have more than enough money to pay? $400 could have fed a lot of poors.

  13. anon says:

    Hmm. Just thinking how different the reaction would have been, if Clint Eastwood had forgotten to tip….Bad behaviour is bad behaviour..whether you like the person or not..period.

  14. Ferdinand says:

    Last time i visited the US, I had dinner at a restaurant. When the check arrived, I saw that below my consumption there was a “suggested tip” part, with a list of the amount of money I was supossed to leave. The minimum was 5 dlls the max was up to 50% of the entire bill.

    I only left 3 dollars. As I was walking out of the restaurant, my waitress came up to me asking if there was something wrong with the service because I only left 3 not 5 dlls. I explained to her that there was nothing wrong with the service but it was all I could leave her. I tried to explain that I was not from the us and that the money exchange rate from my currency to dollars was very high. She just seemed pissed and stormed off.

    I felt bad but seriously, it was all I could leave and I thought 3 Dlls was better than no tip at all.

  15. Egla says:

    This tipping thing it’s weird for me. Like, here in my country I can tip IF i feel like but to HAVE to do it???
    In 2011 I was in Canada and I use to go to a Tim Horton place. It was a self serving place (no waiting staff), but at the counter there was a bowl and someone told me that it was polite to leave changes there for the staff, some kind of tip. Because I hated cents I used to drop them there all the time but still I saw dissatisfied looks so once I asked a Canadian woman who was with me what was that about. She told me not to worry as they were paid fairly and the tip was just for my pleasure not a must. Then I started noticing that many people didn’t leave much at all (at least there) so I feelt less guilty but still it’s not fair to force me to pay extra over extra over extra. Just put everything on my damn bill so when I go out to eat I know before hand what I will spend.
    Oh in Vienna you had to pay about everything in fast foods; kechup- 1 euro, salt-1 euro, bathroom- 50 cents etc etc. In other places they took care of that in the bill LOL