When a family skipped out on their $850 restaurant tab, I was devastated.

But with my manager’s shrewd plan and an unexpected ally, we turned the tables

in a way they never saw coming. It started on a busy Friday night when Mr.

Thompson, his wife, and their teenage kids sat down at my table.

They immediately demanded a prime window seat, extra cushions, and endless refills.

The complaints came fast: the lighting was too dim, the drink wasn’t spotless, and the steak was overcooked. It only escalated with each course, making it clear that they were impossible to please. When their meal was finished, I returned with the bill to find they had vanished. In their place, a napkin read, “Terrible service. The waitress will pay for our tab.” I stared at the note—$850! I rushed to my manager, Mr. Caruso, expecting panic, but instead, he grinned. “This is perfect,” he said. “It’s an opportunity.” He called a local news station to tell the story, and just as I was processing the situation, a customer named Nadine, a food blogger, revealed she had filmed the Thompsons’ rude behavior. The footage aired on the news, and soon, our restaurant’s page was flooded with support. Then, the Thompsons returned, furious, demanding we take down the footage or face legal action. Mr. Caruso, calm as ever, subtly reminded them that they’d been caught dining and dashing. Defeated, Mr. Thompson paid the bill and added a tip. As they left, the restaurant erupted into applause. The following day, Mr. Caruso promoted me to assistant manager for handling the situation with grace. While the recognition was great, I couldn’t help but wonder if we should’ve involved the police right away. Mr. Caruso simply smiled. “Justice was served, Erica. Look at the support we got