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A receipt showing a $375.24 bill and a $25 tip sparked a backlash against Salty Dog Tavern in California.
October 15, 2026, updated 4:46 am ET
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California bar named Salty Dog Tavern Faced backlash after criticizing four customers for leaving a $25 tip on a $375.24 bill.
The bar described his gratuity as inadequate in an Instagram story, but the post received criticism rather than support.
reddit user Some called for a boycott, accusing the establishment of embarrassing its customers. Many also argued that businesses should be responsible for paying their employees fairly.
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Salty Dog Tavern makes fun of four customers over their tip
California bar, The Salty Dog Tavern, shared a receipt and joked in an Instagram Story showing a $375.24 bill and a $25 tip.
The controversy began when Salty Dog Tavern shared a photo of a receipt over the weekend of October 10 and 11. The bill totaled $375.24, while the group left a $25 tip.
The bar directed its criticism at four young customers in the caption accompanying the receipt.
The establishment wrote, “Four young men were served for hours. Spent $400 like a baller and tipped like they were happily dining.”
The tip amount was approximately 6.7% of the bill, which was less than the 15% to 20% often suggested for full-service meals in the United States.
Screenshot of post circulated later Reddit’s r/EndTipping communityWhere users questioned the bar’s decision to publicly criticize its clients.
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Reddit users call for boycott after Barr’s post
Reddit users criticized a California bar after a group’s Instagram post about tip gratuities circulated online.
The photo prompted criticism from Reddit users, some of whom argued that the business should appreciate customers spending money there.
One commenter wrote, “This is ridiculous that a business posted this and they should be happy that people are spending money at their establishment. If you can’t pay your employees enough, you should close the doors!”
Another user questioned the decision to share the receipt publicly.
“This is a whole new level of entitlement to post this on social media,” adding, “It’s a stupid thing for a business to say.”
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Following the bar’s controversial post, customers continued to debate tipping expectations and workers’ wages.
Others called for a boycott: “Basically posting on social media that they don’t appreciate their customers. Okay. Boycott this crap,”
One commentator also pointed out the differences between the issues.
The user wrote, “I don’t really care when people complain about their tips when the servers are down, we all complain about our jobs sometimes, but for an actual business owner to post this on an official business page is really insulting.”
One commenter said, “If they feel their waitstaff deserve more money for their work, the onus is on them to do so.”
Reddit users say bar deleted its Instagram Story
Reddit users reported that Salty Dog Tavern deleted its Instagram Story about six hours after it was posted, with the bar yet to issue a public response.
As the screenshot continued to circulate, Reddit users reported that Salty Dog Tavern deleted its Instagram Story about six hours after publishing it.
So far, the Bar has not issued a formal public response to the response.