Mystery customer leaves $11,000 in 'Tips for Jesus'

The unidentified man arrived at Crudo restaurant in Phoenix at 10pm on December 27 and shared a post-dinner snack and a round of drinks with a woman, according to one of the venue's partners.

He then closed the tab, leaving a $1,000 tip on a $331.40 bill, before they both stayed for further drinks. When they later paid off the second $89.89 tab, the man added a huge $10,000 tip.

In this case, 'Tips for Jesus' is believed to refer to the anonymous person - or people - who regularly leave extravagant tips at restaurants and document their recipients' joy on an Instagram page.

The page, which has more than 84,000 followers, features the slogan: 'Doing the Lord's work, one tip at a time.' It typically features restaurants in New York and Los Angeles, as well as Phoenix.

Speaking to AOL, Mr Spotleson said he, another bartender and a cocktail waitress shared the $11,000 combined tip, but also chose to give some of it to Crudo's kitchen staff.

Describing his reaction to the customer's estimated 2,500-per-cent tip, he added: 'I dropped everything I had and just froze for second.... I had a bottle in my hand when he said it.

'It was a quick slip, but I caught it. The owner kind of gave me this look like, "Oh, my gosh, wow!".'

Maureen Campbell, one of Crudo's partners, told ABC News that although the tipper wished to remain anonymous, he did stick around long enough to allow the restaurant workers to thank him.

'He did hand them the check before he left and they were very grateful for such a generous amount of money they received,' she said. 'I don’t know what his response was.'

She added that the woman who had accompanied the man was believed by staff to be his date.

The customer, who was using an American Express card, apparently left a tip at the same restaurant last year. However, it was for a lower - still, generous - amount of $2,500.

Describing the tipper, Mr Spotleson said: 'He's a man ... He's in an age group where he's not old and rackety, but he's definitely got the ability to spend that kind of money.'

(dailymail.co.uk)