Diner Surprises Irish Waiter in Texas with $750 So He Can Visit His Family in Belfast

Facebook/Taryn Keith(HOUSTON) — An Irish waiter in Houston, Texas, who said he hasn’t seen his family in Northern Ireland in more than two years can finally visit them again — thanks to the generosity of a diner who recently left him a $750 tip on a $182.87 tab.

Ben Millar, 22, told ABC News Tuesday that he received the big tip while working this past Saturday, Nov. 19.

A man named Jeffrey had come in with his family, Millar said. After chatting with them for a bit, Millar said he learned that Jeffrey and his family often visited Ireland.

“I jokingly said, ‘I wish I could go back that often to see my family,'” Millar recalled. “I thought nothing of it, and we all joked after. The night went on, and I proceeded to give good service and talk to them.”

After Jeffrey and his family had left, Millar picked up the checkbook and discovered the $750 tip on the receipt. Jeffrey had also left a little note on the tab that read, “hopefully, this can get you back to Ireland for the holidays.”

Millar told ABC News, “My initial reaction was shouting, ‘Holy s—!'”

The waiter said he then showed the tab to his friend at the restaurant who had been working there for more than 11 years. Miller said his friend told him he had “never had a tip” like the one he just got.

Millar said he plans on saving the tip money until his baby with his girlfriend, 21-year-old Taryn Keith, is born. He said he wanted to take his new family in Texas back to see his family in Belfast.

“I also hope I can reach out to Jeffrey so he knows how much I appreciate it,” Millar said. “It means a lot to me, but more to my family back home who will benefit from seeing me again since almost two years.”

Millar added that he would “love if Jeffrey could come over when I go back, so I can show him the true Northern Ireland, not just the tourist aspect.”

Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

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