ONE customer at a restaurant in Ohio, the U.S., is certainly taking their lead from Santa Claus — leaving a special surprise for the staff this holiday season. The guest left a US$5,600 tip for the workers, which the owner called “an amazing gesture of kindness.”

“This really happened,” wrote Moussa Salloukh on Dec. 13 on the Facebook page of his Toledo restaurant, Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar, which has been open since October 2019. “Last night one of our guests left a US$5,600 tip to be given to all of our staff, whether they were working that shift or not.”

The chef and owner said each person received US$200 with the gratuity split between his 28 employees.

Salloukh also posted a photo of the check that had totaled just US$0.01 before the tip was added on. The benefactor is only identified as “Billy” in the post.

“The words ‘Thank You’ seem inadequate for this gift... but Thank You Billy, for your generous spirit and for making a difference in the lives of people I care a lot about this holiday season,” Salloukh added.

Salloukh said that the generosity was especially “deeply needed and very appreciated” this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. (SD-Agencies)