Two Biloxi waitresses share a $3,400 breakfast tip as the Christmas elves strike again
The Christmas elves returned in South Mississippi Wednesday to surprise two waitresses at Port City Cafe on Pass Road with a tip of a lifetime.
Last December a group of 20 Coast friends got together for breakfast at Phoenicia Gourmet Restaurant in Ocean Springs and instead of the standard 20% tip, they chipped in $100 apiece to tip their waitress.
This year brought closer to 30 friends to Port City Cafe in Biloxi and an even bigger tip shared by the two waitresses who served their long table. Others who couldn’t make it to breakfast also contributed their $100.
Lexi Green of Ocean Springs said she had hoped for a $100 total tip for serving the large group.
Instead the total with all those $100 bills came to about $3,400.
“I did not expect that all,” said Green, who lifted her arm to show the goosebumps.
“That’s the most I’ve ever been tipped in my life and I’ve been here six years,” said waitress Sidney Searles of Biloxi, who shared waiting on the table and the huge tip.
Both waitresses cried when they saw the size of the tip, said Ernest Ulrich, owner of Port City Cafe.
“Happy tears this morning,” Searles said.
How they will use the money
Green said it’s been a challenge to make ends meet this year between bills and inflation.
This surprise money means she will be able to pay some bills and surprise her two children. “I’m going to get my kids a few more Christmas presents now,” she said.
Searles said she plans to put the windfall toward Christmas and paying bills.
“Thanks y’all so much,” the waitresses called out to the customers after they gathered for a photo outside the restaurant.
Feel good all around
That’s why the group of friends from Ocean Springs, Biloxi and Gulfport choose a restaurant and provide a big holiday gift to the waitresses.
“It’s an opportunity to do a kind act during the Christmas season,” said Joe Cloyd of Ocean Springs. “This is the second year I’ve been part of it.”
It also gives the friends a chance for a holiday celebration. “It gets us up and going together,” said Dina Cook.
And it’s a boost to business, said Ulrich. “We do a lot of Christmas parties and that really helps,” he said. It also gave him a chance to draw new customers. Several of the people who came there Wednesday morning had never been to Port City Cafe.
This was his first year to be part of the breakfast, said Benji Richoux of Biloxi, but not his first time at Port City Cafe.
“I eat here all the time,” he said, and he knows the two waitresses.
“This is great,” he said.
Before he was a banker at Hancock Whitney Bank, he waited tables during college to pay his bills.
“I knew the struggle,” he said.
This story was originally published December 7, 2022 at 12:14 PM.
