An ESPN writer, Roberto José Andrade, sent $50 to a Los Angeles deli weeks after his visit, concerned he may have forgotten to tip his server. Andrade, who was visiting Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant in Los Angeles on May 1, experienced lingering doubt about whether he had left a tip for the waitress who served him and his two friends.
He expressed his concern in a letter dated May 19, more than two weeks after the meal. Andrade stated that his first job was as a busboy and waiter, and his sister also worked as a server for years, making him recognize the importance of tips for service workers. "I recognize how important these tips are to workers," Andrade wrote. He asked the deli to ensure the $50 was given to his server, whom he described as a "petite Asian woman," along with his apologies.
Andrade explained that the potential oversight occurred during a discussion with his friends about how to divide the bill. "In all that talk and math confusion, and saying our goodbyes, I drive away and somewhere stuck in traffic I ask myself, 'Did I leave a tip?'" he recalled. He admitted that sending the money later might not have been his most strategic move but deemed it the "easiest way to get this resolved."
Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant posted Andrade's letter on its Facebook page, noting that his gesture had brightened their week. According to Andrade, the owner of the deli, Norm Langer, contacted him about a week after the letter was sent. Andrade was unaware of the public attention his letter was receiving until a mutual friend informed him.
The deli confirmed that the server received the money and was "floored." The restaurant thanked Andrade for his conscientiousness, stating, "Your table's always ready here."
Norm Langer noted that it was impossible to confirm whether Andrade had initially forgotten to tip because the transaction was entirely in cash. Coworkers of the server described her as a valuable and helpful employee. Andrade had ordered the deli's famous "number 19" pastrami sandwich during his visit.