Omnivore - At Applebee's, Jesus is jealous of your server's tip

Some people - some people I know - wouldn't think twice about tossing their wallets to hot bartenders, but they turn into fiscal Republicans when calculating a server's tip. They might start with the once-customary 15 percent of the bill before taxes. Then they subtract or, rarely, add extra to express their displeasure or satisfaction. Like royalty.

I'm not shy in this instance. "You need to leave 20 percent of the total tab at minimum," I bark when I see someone stealthily slipping two dollars in the bill folder instead of the $4 they should leave.

People are often horrified when I say such a thing. "Would you leave Jesus only 10 percent after he served you wine?" I asked a friend recently.

It seems that a pastor in St. Louis, Mo., indeed concluded recently that if the server isn't Jesus, not even a 10-percent tip is owed.

Pastor Alois Bell was seated at a table of 10 at Applebee's, which added a tip of 18 percent to her bill. Adding minimum tips is usual with large parties. Rev. Bell scrawled on her bill, with the self-righteousness only a preacher can muster: "I give God 10 percent. Why do you get 18?"

The table's server showed the note to co-worker Chelsea Welch, who in turn posted a photo of it on the Internet, where it promptly caught fire and blazed around the world. After three days, Applebee's fired Chelsea. She wrote an essay about the experience for the Guardian. It's a good read for anyone who is ignorant of the drama of table service.

Rev. Bell has formally apologized for her comment, calling it "dumb." This was after, according to Chelsea Welch, she called the restaurant and demanded the entire staff be fired. She also insisted that the photo of her snippy-for-Jesus comment be taken down. (Uh, welcome to the Internets, Rev.)