Massachusetts man left his server a $20 tip after bad service. Then she snatched the machine out of his hands before he could give review: ‘Go when she’s not there’

A Massachusetts man has taken to TikTok to advise his viewers to avoid a particular restaurant, or at the very least avoid one particular server, due to poor service he and his friends allegedly received while there.

TikToker “@beingberto” says he arrived at La Hacienda Revere with his friends for an enjoyable meal. He admits that it was “packed” due to it being Good Friday but that he loved the Revere, claiming that they had “good food” and “good vibes.” However, the good vibes were apparently nowhere to be found on this particular evening.

The problems started from the moment Berto and his friends entered the establishment as he narrated how one server, whose name was Andrea, walked past them and stated that there was no room. While her approach may have been a bit rude, Berto and his friends weren’t put off and they were willing to wait.

Eventually a table cleared and Berto and his friends went to make a move on it only to be told by Andrea that the table had been reserved despite the fact that the restaurant worked on a first come first serve basis. The group were then squeezed onto a two table and the rest of the evening saw Andrea ignoring them.

Things only got worse when Berto asked for the check. Due to the poor service, he decided to tip below the silently agreed 20% minimum. When he had the chance, Berto put in a custom tip of $20 at which point Andrea snatched the machine out of his hands before the option to leave a review came up.

TikTok is split over whether Berto’s response was justified

Plenty agreed with Berto’s decision to leave a low tip and call out Andrea for her bad service. Some shared their own experiences at the same restaurant claiming they received burnt food (which doesn’t exactly relate to the quality of service). Others suggested Berto’s $20 was too generous.

However, others defended the server and the restaurant. “She’s the best I never got bad service by her and I met her there, idn what to tell you,” one person wrote. Others gave Andrea the benefit of the doubt suggest she could have “something personal going on,” but that she was “going into work despite it.”

We can’t really know for sure what led to the awkward and tense encounter. Sometimes people just have off days and they bring it to work without meaning to. It doesn’t excuse being rude to customers, but it could explain things. Also, we are hearing only one side of the incident without knowing anything about whether any action of this group of friends infuriatated the server, or whether this particular interaction even happened. Whatever the case, the whole ordeal left Berto feeling the need to warn people about the service at the restaurant.