Woodbridge Waitress Says $1,200 Tip Came After She Said She Believed In God

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Last week's story of a Woodbridge waitress given a $1,200 tip on a $20 bill stunned New Jersey. But nearly everyone who heard about it likely wondered: Why the extreme generosity?

Now today, the Bar Louie waitress, Brianna Siegel, talks to Patch about the conversation that took place inside the Rt. 1 bar/grill last Tuesday night, Aug. 22. The couple, a man and woman who appeared to be their mid-20s and looked African-American, were seated in her section.

"We really were just chatting about nothing in particular. They asked me what I wanted to do beyond waitressing and I told them my dream was to become a nurse and work in a pediatric cancer ward," she said. "I didn't tell them anything else about my life or my struggles."

Life isn't always easy for Siegel, who grew up in the area and attended Colonia High School: She works full-time at Bar Louie, which includes regular 12-hour shifts. Her mom died from a sudden illness when she three years and her father is on a disability and cannot work. She said she's been saving up to attend the JFK Muhlenberg Snyder nursing program in Plainfield.

"They asked me, 'Do you believe in God?' I said, 'Yes, I do; God is a big thing in my life.' And they told me they were Christian and that they really appreciated hearing that," she recalled. "At the end of their meal, they handed me an envelope and said, 'This is for you, don't open it 'till you get home."

The couple then left. The waitress put the envelope in her apron.

"It was $5 burger night so we were really busy and I honestly forgot about it," said Siegel. "It wasn't until I got home that night that I started going through my tip money as I always do, and I found the money."

There was a handwritten note on a cocktail napkin, part of which Siegel shared with Patch. "He wrote something like, 'This is not a coincidence. I know becoming a RN is hard, but just remember God always got you."

The note also included part of the Biblical verse, Peter 5:7-9.

"At first I said to myself, 'No, this is a fraud, this is not real," she recalled. "I was stunned."

Siegel managed to track the man down on Facebook and tried to thank him. He wrote back to her, but told her he wanted to remain anonymous and ask that she please not reveal any of his personal details to the media.

"He messaged me back and said, 'Please keep us anonymous. Just remember this was a gift from God,'" she said. "You never think there are nice people in this world. Getting this was an honor. I'm going to put it towards nursing school and a car."

Past Patch coverage: Woodbridge Waitress Gets Huge Tip On $20 Bill