Restaurant Firm To Pay Back Big Tipper

The big tipper is going to get his money back.

The company that owns Stanford’s Restaurant and Bar has decided to pay back the $1,000 tip that a man left for a waitress last November.

The man, whose name has not been made public, left the tip for a $3.95 gin and tonic at Stanford’s in Lake Oswego. Three months later, American Express notified the restaurant that the man was disputing the bill.

The dispute had continued since it became public last week, and the man, a lumber broker in his 50s identified only as Craig, remains a regular customer.

“We stand here watching this conflict continue and we thought it would be in the best interest of our customer, our employee and our company to step up and pay the $1,000,” said Robert MacLellan, chief executive officer of Pacific Coast Restaurants.

The check was mailed Thursday to American Express to be credited to the man’s account. It also included a $100 tip that he had left the same day.

Ruth Bullis, a 37-year-old newlywed, was not available for comment. She was out of town appearing on a television talk show, restaurant officials said.

MacLellan said the restaurant stands behind Bullis’ decision to keep the tip.

“She’s worked very, very hard for our company, so it’s time for the company to stand up and be counted,” MacLellan said.

Bullis and her co-workers said the man wasn’t intoxicated when he left the tip, although he had finished his third gin and tonic. The restaurant manager even asked him if he was sure this was something he wanted to do.

“He said, ‘I can leave you whatever I want - what goes around comes around. I’m a big spender,”’ Bullis recalled.

He had overheard her talking to the bartender about her efforts to get pregnant, he said, and wanted her to have the money to start a family.

She said she spent the money on bills and Christmas presents.