The patron should have been notified up front and agree to the 18 % prior to service. I certainly like to know when I am paying for something. If this is a restaurant policy then that is what it is. If she didn't want to pay it, I guess that is her choice. Maybe the service was horrible.

I understand the frustration of the waitress, but that is her job and whatever someone wishes to give her is what she has to accept. It is just the nature of the business. The Pastor broke the first commandment by doing what she did. The waitress violated the privacy of the Pastor. Whether or not it is a criminal act, I don't know.

Both of them would have been better off just letting it go. They are both personally responsible for ruining this portion of their life. Now I see a bunch of other people getting wrapped up in their little moment, as if we all don't have enough of our own stuff going on.

A boycott of Applebees won't hurt Applebees. They will just lay off more employees. Let's not hurt more in this fiasco. If you don't want to go to Applebees, don't go for the reason I don't go. The food sucks, plain and simple.