‘Hope for humanity’: N.S. restaurant receives money to cover bill after accidental order from Alabama

A customer from Alabama makes good on a takeout order error in Nova Scotia.

Laura and Darcy Clarke, owners of Bentley’s Burgers and Fries in West Chezzetcook, N.S., thought nothing of a phone order they received for two cheeseburgers and two fries on Oct. 1.

The couple, who opened the business in May 2022, whipped up the order and waited for the caller to come pick it up, but they never arrived.

The couple said this wasn’t anything new, it’s happened before, and they gave away the order to another patron. But a month later they were shocked to receive a letter in the mail, apologizing for not picking up the order, along with some money to cover the bill.

“Mind blown,” said Darcy. “Couldn’t believe it when we took the order initially, we usually get tourists that come through. So, I just assumed it was a tourist, and they got lost. And that was that.”

The caller wasn’t able to pick up the order because they were nowhere near West Chezzetcook. They had called from Warrior, Alabama.

“Obviously, I called the wrong restaurant,” they wrote in the apology note. “I hope that the amount enclosed is enough to cover the cost of my embarrassing mistake.”

The husband and wife, shocked by the act of kindness, posted the letter to Facebook and have received hundreds of likes and comments. Darcy said the reaction on social media was an overwhelming response of hope.

“Hope for humanity,” he said with a laugh. “It’s nice to see there’s still nice people in this world, honest people and all that kind of stuff.”

Darcy said the post received 40,000 views in just one day.

“It must have touched a lot of people,” he said.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page