Valentine’s Day is a busy, lucrative day for the restaurant industry. Many couples decide to go out and celebrate their love with a nice, fancy meal. But, not everyone is so lucky to spend time with the person they’re into. As it goes, sometimes people get stood up on dates—even on Valentine’s Day. It’s sad, painful, and embarrassing—especially when you’re out in public. One guy on Twitter decided to use this emotional trauma to play people in a restaurant.
Twitter user Phteven decided to pretend he got stood up at an Outback Steakhouse to see if he would get a free steak out of the waiter’s guilt and sorrow for him. Honestly, it’s fucked up.
if I went to Outback Steakhouse by myself tonight and asked for a table for 2, then got progressively sadder as the night went on alone, do you think they’d give me my steak for free?
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 14, 2019
He decided to actually try it out.
I just got here. there is a 45 minute wait for a table for 2.
GOOD THING I CALLED AHEAD!
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
got my table pic.twitter.com/8KdypncH31
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
He even got dressed up to make it seem legit.
in case you were wondering whether I’m taking this seriously…
y’all. i wore a suit jacket. pic.twitter.com/Xlae1xXQxi
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
And, he ordered fake drinks for his fake date.
“well I remember she said she loves chardonnay so why don’t we start with a glass of that” pic.twitter.com/JthgEouLqS
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
i just pretended to leave a voicemail saying “I’m here, let me know when you’re on your way” as my waiter walked by
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
finished the first loaf of bread pic.twitter.com/2BnCMMm2I4
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
He also brought a “fake gift.
when I parked, I took the jumper cables in my trunk out of the bag they came in and stuff some shoebox paper I had in the backseat into it to make it look like a bought a present
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love” pic.twitter.com/juSnmtXNmn
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
i mean there can’t be a sadder image than a guy in a suit
at Outback Steakhouse
alone
on Valentine’s Day
sitting across from an untouched decanter of white wine.
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
He ended up staying there literally all night until the kitchen was closing.
it’s 9:45. the kitchen closes in 15 minutes. i’m going to wait until my waiter comes by and i’m gonna finish the wine in one swig from the decanter – no glass necessary
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
Then, he decided to order his steak (with only 15 minutes until the kitchen closes, rude).
i ordered my steak. this dude is walking on EGGSHELLS around me. i’ve never seen someone scoop glassware as smoothly as he took the untouched glass and empty decanter from the table
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
the waiter just talked to the bartender. i’m sitting in a booth at the bar and every single person within eye range has glanced at me at some point during the evening.
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
He left another fake voicemail for his “fake date.”
audio of a fake voicemail I just left in earshot of anyone still at the bar pic.twitter.com/LfIttzT3u6
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
the menu is gone but my forlorn lover lives on in the form of water, silverware, and a lone plate.
i have named her Katherine. pic.twitter.com/rnTYJrGnPH
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
Katherine is a consultant at Deloitte. She lives in Arlington, that’s why I chose this spot.
We met at the grocery store. We both went for the same bag of shredded cheese.
She seemed so excited for our Valentine’s Day date.
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
And, he turned on the drama for everyone to see—not to mention, he stayed way passed closing at the restaurant, keeping everyone on staff stuck there.
steak’s here. blue cheese crumbles melted on top. restaurant’s closed. how long can I stare into the distance before taking a bite? pic.twitter.com/w7bhvIAyne
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
10 minutes have gone by. haven’t touched the steak. the restaurant closed 25 minutes ago pic.twitter.com/rA2Ni6kaQt
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
i still haven’t gotten a check. i KNOW this waiter is getting ready to clock out for the night.
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
As it turns out, one couple who sat at the bar felt so bad for him, they paid for his dinner.
UPDATE: a couple at the bar paid for my meal for me.
this mission?
SUCCESSFUL.
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
Trying to be a “nice guy,” he said he donated the $50 he would have spent on dinner to the American Civil Liberties Union.
as a thank you to that couple who bought my dinner, I’ve donated $50 to ACLU.
spread love y’all.
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
i took all my food to go. all. of. it. ate three bites of mac n cheese and never once touched the steak. my mans gave me a to go Dr Pepper so I’m leaving him a $20 tip pic.twitter.com/9tjOy7K0FG
— Phteven (@baconflavoring) February 15, 2019
While some thought the plan was funny, others online thought it was rude, f*cked up, and annoying for someone to pretend to be stood up just to get money and a free meal—especially because you’re playing with people’s emotions.
I laughed, but…
Should’ve tipped more tbh. That’s a long time to take up a table on one of the busiest nights of the year (especially considering tips tend to be more generous on Valentine’s Day, too) ?
— Sara Alma (@melbelrr11) February 15, 2019
Some day you will regret this stunt. Maybe not today or tomorrow but there will be a day in your future when you really wish you had this moment in time back for a do-over.
— Drew68 (@TheRealDrew68) February 15, 2019
I hope someone at the restaurant found this thread last night and your last drink was spit into. You tip the guy $20 to hog a stable and his section for 3 hours. You probably cost him at least fifty bucks if not a lot more. Way to go
— Daniel Mike (@DanielDMike) February 15, 2019
i really don't think you can offset the fact that you kept a restaurant staff unnecessarily and made them do emotional labor for you just so you could do a twitter bit by leaving a big tip or donating to the ACLU
— ? zoë ✨ (@2tallmountains) February 15, 2019
If I went to Outback Steakhouse by myself and saw you there, do you think I could throw you on the grill and watch you cook medium well?
— Tony (@ItMeTony) February 15, 2019
Funny story but as a former server, may I say: YOU SAT THERE FOR 25 MINUTES AFTER CLOSING??? Joke's over. Get outta there. That guy probably had a date to get to, too, dude. Nothing worse than a table that won't leave when you're at the tail end of a busy holiday split shift.
— Molly Max (@molly_n_max) February 16, 2019
Wow. To think if you put as much effort and time into trying to find someone.
— JJ (@JJeffries02) February 15, 2019
As someone who worked in the service industry for well over a decade: keeping your server there after closing time to pull this shit guarantees you'll deserve every instance of poor service and restaurant related food poisoning you get for the rest of your life.
— Eoin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) February 15, 2019
A sad human making up a story to fulfill being a sad human while stiffing wait staff & getting a free meal when it could have gone to a Veteran. Got it.
— TracyVegas (@tracyvegas) February 16, 2019
Ouch.