Some 60 customers at a Denny's in Newcastle, California, were pleasantly surprised to learn that they would not be required to pay for their meals — because a mystery woman had already picked up their check.

"I asked her, I said ‘Are you sure?'" the restaurant's relief manager Seto Avakian told CBS Sacramento, recalling her conversation with the anonymous philanthropist. "She said ‘yeah.' I said ‘It'll be a lot of money.'"

All told, the "Denny's Donor", whom Avakian revealed was a mid-30s mother of two young children, shelled out around $340 (including tip) to pay for everyone's food.

The woman wouldn't divulge why she was being so generous — Avakian said she was "very nice" and "very humble."

But for many of the diners, her identity matters a lot less than her inspiring gesture. "It's wonderful," said customer Carol Owens. "I wish more people would do things like that."

[H/T: Consumerist, screengrab via CBS Sacramento]