Waiter sticks up for special-needs child by refusing service to family that makes unkind comment

[Liberal_in_LA]

Waiter sticks up for special-needs child by refusing service

A Houston restaurant is receiving widespread praise after its staff refused to serve a group that had some unkind things to say about a special needs child.

Mom Kim Castillo wrote on her Facebook page about the experience and shared it with 29-95.com on Thursday.

Castillo said she was dining at a restaurant called Laurenzo’s with her family, including her son Milo, who has Down syndrome. A family of four came in and asked to be moved from the booth next to Castillo, then left the restaurant shortly thereafter.

“As it turns out they told the waiter, ‘special needs kids should be kept in special places,’” Castillo said. “The waiter promptly told them he was offended by their comment and refused to serve them.”

Facebook users have joined Castillo in complimenting the restaurant for sticking up for Milo.

“Your people rock!” Marco A Martinez said.

“Thank you from an Ohio mom of a little boy with Down syndrome,” Kathy Thut said. “I’ve never been to Texas, but if I ever get there, you’ll be getting our business ”

http://blog.sfgate.com/hottopics/2013/01/18/waiter-sticks-up-for-special-needs-child-by-refusing-service/

[ChazII]

1. Three cheers for that restaurant.

My son, who looks like the Disney version of Quasimodo, had a similar experience. When he was 9, a couple said the he should not be allowed in a restaurant as he had 'made' them lose their appetite. Both the waitress and the manager lit into that couple. The manager and waitress had known my son son he was in an infant carrier.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. awesome that they stuck up for your son

[ChazII]

7. Thanks. Life is not easy

for those who are different. Even more so when you have fools who don't want those 'different' folks in public places.

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. I recall when Dick Clark had a stroke and return to TV, some folks didnt want him

in public. People suck.

[TxDemChem]

11. I've got a few cousins with disabilities

And I am horrified that anyone would act that way, especially any adults who ought to know better. My husband and I are a couple of foodies who, when traveling through Texas make it a point to to support worthwhile restaurants, will definitely visit this restaurant and inquire about the server. Kudos to standing up for everyone's rights.

[Lisa0825]

2. Very good restaurant!

The Laurenzo family has several restaurants, all good. Nice to know it seems the restaurant is supportive of the staff refusing to serve.

[freshwest]

12. I will make it a point to visit next time I'm down there. Is the chain named Laurenzo's?

[Lisa0825]

14. The family has several restuarants...

Laurenzo's is a prime rib restaurant. Ninfa Laurenzo was the family matriarch, and namesake of Ninfa's. Her sons opened El Tiempo Cantina, one of my favorite places (tenderloin fajitas! yum!), and her daughter and SIL have Tony Mandola's.

Now, I do know that Mama Ninfa was a friend of GHWB, but I am not aware of the politics of the children. I have never heard of them being involved with anything political. But their food is good.

[freshwest]

15. Ah, Ninfa's! I ate there several times and it won't be hard to find something owned by the family.

I thought this was another family. Thanks.

[Lisa0825]

16. I like Ninfa's, and it is moderately priced. The kids' restaurants are pricier, but

the food is really good, high quality. So I may not go there often, but when I want something special, it is worth the trip.

[DollarBillHines]

19. Is that the "Ninfa's" family?

If so, I remember that little joint down on the Ship Channel where Ninfa worked the kitchen and the family worked the front.

I loved that place.

[Lisa0825]

20. Yes, that is Ninfa's family. Ninfa's itself is no longer family-owned.

They went bankrupt. But Ninfa's children and their families have opened several restaurants.

I have never had anything bad at a Ninfa's or at any Laurenzo family restaurant.

I had my birthday this year at El Tiempo Cantina. AWESOME fajitas!

[DollarBillHines]

25. At the old place (Canal St?)

We used to take our own wine, beer and tequila.

Get wasted while enjoying the finest food in town.

I loved Ninfa.

One of a kind.

I used to drag her out to Anderson Fair...

She would serve us food and put up with our music.
DBH

[NYC_SKP]

3. K/R (nt)

[ReRe]

4. The Power of One

K&R Payin' it forward all over the U.S.A. There really IS power in one!

[Voice for Peace]

10. +++

[1983law]

22. Good call.

It starts with one person.

[ReRe]

24. That's right...

Never underestimate the power of ONE!

[WillyT]

5. HUGE K & R !!!

[JohnnyLib2]

8. R & K for good folks.

[rrneck]

9. We reserve the right to refuse service to assholes. nt

[redstatebluegirl]

17. We go to Houston quite often

we will be sure to take our working dinner there next time and tell them why!

[Skittles]

18. I like that

yes INDEED

[SoapBox]

21. K & R

...it's a BIG, BIG world out there.

If the Family of Stoopid can't stand the heat in the kitchen...get the hell out. Oh ya, they did...must have gone
back to hid under their Home-Skool'n-ROCK.

[Heathen57]

23. So glad to see this.

As the article says, nobody wants to sit near a disruptive and noisy child, but that wasn't the case here.

My brother-in-law has CP and is in a wheelchair. He is a little loud when he talks but his replies are intelligent. When we all go out to dinner, the wait staff have come to know him and always come by to greet us all, and that sounds like what happened in this case.

It takes a special kind of stupid to be rude like that to a child and their family. The staff was within their rights to refuse service, and I'm glad to see it happen. It wasn't the child who needed to learn manners this time, but rather the other family.

[Kalidurga]

26. Well families like that need to be kept in special places too...

If differences offend them so much, they should just stay home with their perfect selves.