John Boehner Group Leaves Weak Tip At California Restaurant

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) didn't do the best job of endearing himself to a California restaurant this week, where he and his cadre reportedly left a less-than-generous tip for the wait staff.

It's not like Boehner and his entourage didn't get VIP treatment at Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay. After members of Boehner's security team checked out the establishment, owner Paul Shenkman told the Half Moon Bay Review that he ushered Boehner, three associates and their eight-person security detail through a rear door and into a private back room.

They were served an assortment of seafood: ahi tuna, shrimp, clams, oysters, ceviche and clam chowder. The security personnel had lobster rolls. When all was said, done and eaten, the Review reports that their guests left something of a surprise -- and not in the good way.

The group left in a hurry, leaving a tip that reportedly left the server feeling a little unappreciated.

One hour later, a member of the security detail phoned Sam’s Chowder House, saying he realized they skimped on the tip. He asked the restaurant to add another $30 to the bill.

Boehner is well-known in Washington circles as a frequent client of area restaurants, often seen sipping on a glass of Merlot. As a former bartender and family of restaurant owners, Boehner is no stranger to tips. It's unclear who was responsible for picking up the check, but here's to hoping it wasn't the speaker.

Correction: The Half Moon Bay Review corrected their original report about how long it took Boehner's party to call the restaurant back and offer a larger tip. We have updated our entry to reflect this correction. The original article also states that the Secret Service provided security for Boehner, but the Capitol Police have jurisdiction over all movements of high-priority congressmen across the United States. We regret the errors.