Donnie Wahlberg, an actor and singer before becoming a restaurateur, is the son of a one-time waitress and bartender, and he honored his mom and dad by leaving a massive tip after a recent trip to a Charlotte, N.C. Waffle House.
"My mom waited tables, and my dad tended bars-- for years! So, when I walk into a Waffle House , and the staff treats me like a king, you better believe I treat them like queens!" he posted on his official Facebook page, along with a photo of a receipt showing a $2,000 tip.
Wahlberg and two of his brothers, chef Paul Wahlberg and fellow entertainer Mark Wahlberg, are the purveyors of the Wahlburgers restaurant chain. They've recently opened a location in metro Atlanta, at The Battery at SunTrust Park .
The A&E reality show “Wahlburgers” chronicles the tales of the guys and their burger joints. Their mom Alma Wahlberg is featured prominently.
"As the mother of nine children, she has seen it all. Alma worked as a bank clerk and nurse’s aide to make ends meet while raising her children in tight quarters on the Dorchester streets where she grew up," her bio on the show's page reads. "She now spends her days working as a greeter and hostess at her sons’ restaurants where she shares her infectious laugh and sense of humor with everyone who comes to dine."
