Mr. Caruso, our manager, had a plan—and things took an unexpected turn fast. Just as he started outlining it, a woman at a nearby table spoke up. She was Nadine, a food blogger who’d accidentally captured everything on video. From the finger snaps to the rude complaints, it was all there. With her footage and Mr. Caruso’s idea to tip off the local news, the story exploded overnight. The Thompsons’ behavior went viral, even with their faces blurred.
The next day, they stormed in during lunch, furious and threatening lawsuits. But Mr. Caruso coolly reminded them that pressing charges would confirm it was them who skipped out. With cameras rolling and the whole restaurant watching, they sheepishly paid—and even left a tip. As the door closed behind them and the room broke into applause, I stood there in disbelief. I never thought justice could taste this sweet.