Waiter Refuses To Serve Customers Who Insulted Special Needs Child

[Family Ties Forever!]

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Waiter Refuses To Serve Customers Who Insulted Special Needs Child
Friday, January 18, 2013
Miya Shay
(See Video)

Houston (KTRK) -- A waiter at a restaurant near downtown took a stand for a special needs child. Now, support is flowing in from all over, thanking the waiter and the restaurant, Laurenzo's on Washington. The waiter has been working at the restaurant for about two years, and the family members at the heart of the story have been regular customers about the same length of time. But it's what took place two days ago that has a lot of people talking.

Michael Garcia loves serving his customers. On Wednesday night he greeted two groups of regulars -- Kim Castillo and her family, and another group who sat in the adjacent booth. "So we were sitting there and all of a sudden I noticed that the family across from us got up and moved to the back of the restaurant," Castillo said. "I thought, I wonder if they're moving because of us?" The Castillo group included five-year-old Milo, who has Down syndrome. But neither Milo's mom Kim nor Garcia could have imagined why the other family moved.

Garcia recalled, "I didn't think much of it until I heard him say, 'Special needs children need to be special somewhere else.'" After hearing that, Garcia just reacted. "It was very disturbing," he said. "My personal feelings just took over and I told this man, 'I'm sorry, I can't serve you.'" That family quickly left. But it wasn't until later in the evening that the Castillo family found out that their waiter had stood up for their son.

Kim Castillo said, "What went through my mind was that I was just so impressed and felt so good that somebody would stand up for another human being." Garcia said, "It upset me because he's a five-year-old little boy. He's an angel. He's precious!" Since then support has poured in, from the Internet and from regular customers. Customer Bill Baker said, "I think he did the right thing -- there's the door."

And most of all, he earned the thanks of a grateful Castillo family. Kim said, "He's good in our book!" Garcia says if the other customers return, he will serve them just like anyone else. As for the Castillo family, they plan to remain loyal customers.

(Copyright ©2013 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.

[Alex Smith]

Good for that waiter for standing up for his loyal customers!

[70s show watcher]

good for him it was wonderful that he did that

[Janice Johnson]

Uh, didn't Michael say that he would serve the rude customers if they came back? WTF?

[gidgetgrape]

'Special needs children need to be special somewhere else.' - What a terrible thing to say! Such ignorance.

[USATVFAN]

Lol I read this title of the thread wrong at first but after looking at it again... good For Walter!!

There should be more mangers like him today.

[treky]

"Special needs children need to be special somewhere else". I can't believe that in this day and age someone could actually say something that rude and cruel!!!

All I can say is for that waiter!!!

[OH Nuts!]

Shame on those customers who made that callous remark. Bravo for the waiter who did the right thing.

[Myles]

Nice to hear a positive story for a change!

Very admirable of the waiter to stand up the way he did. I can't imagine someone being so heartless to make fun of a five year-old. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, buddy.

[The Flying Dutchmans]

Michael Garcia is a wonderful humanitarian. We need more people like him.

[Tweety]

While I can see people's point that what the waiter did was admirable in its own way, it's really not his (the Waiter's) decision as to whether or not to serve someone. The other family was rude, but that doesn't necessarily negate their right to expect to be served in the restaurant.

If the waiter had checked with the Owner (or at least the manager), that would be one thing. But frankly, waiters have no business deciding who is and who isn't entitled to eat at a restaurant, unless of course some type of physical threat is made.

I personally think even the Owner would be going a bit far by refusing to serve that rude family, but at least that would be a business decision appropriate for that level of responsibility.

I'm sure Mr. Garcia is a fine gentleman, and I agree that the second family was very rude and insensitive. But as far as service goes, it's not really Garcia's decision to make, especially on the spot like that.

Perhaps Garcia could have accomplished the same thing (i.e. standing up for the Castillo family) by going to the manager on duty and saying "I refuse to serve that family, and here's why... ". Then let the Manager make the call.

[Tweety]

I would also add that I don't know what the laws are regarding restaurant service in Texas. If you refuse to serve the wrong person/family, you may have a lawsuit on your hands. Since being rude is not illegal, I'm not sure what grounds the restaurant would have to refuse to serve the Rude family.

[dlemond]

Originally Posted by Tweety

While I can see people's point that what the waiter did was admirable in its own way, it's really not his (the Waiter's) decision as to whether or not to serve someone. The other family was rude, but that doesn't negate their right to expect to be served in the restaurant.

If the waiter had checked with the Owner (or at least the manager), that would be one thing. But frankly, waiters have no business deciding who is and who isn't entitled to eat at a restaurant, unless of course some type of physical threat is made.

I personally think even the Owner would be going a bit far by refusing to serve that rude family, but at least that would be a business decision appropriate for that level of responsibility.

I'm sure Mr. Garcia is a fine gentleman, and I agree that the second family was very rude and insensitive. But as far as service goes, it's not really Garcia's decision to make, especially on the spot like that.

Perhaps Garcia could have accomplished the same thing (i.e. standing up for the Castillo family) by going to the manager on duty and saying "I refuse to serve that family, and here's why... ". Then let the Manager make the call.

You know, you make decisions as a human being and have to take responsibility for them. And live with them.

I believe that of course Garcia jumped over his authority and he knew it. But for him, to make the statement- and to drill it home to these people - it was worth the risk he was taking.

To me there was a correction to be made- and those people should be ashamed- and if a job had to be sacraficed to do the right thing, so be it.

Perhaps he could not have forgiven himself if he did not take a stance.

The example he set speaks for itself.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by dlemond

You know, you make decisions as a human being and have to take responsibility for them. And live with them.

I believe that of course Garcia jumped over his authority and he knew it. But for him, to make the statement- and to drill it home to these people - it was worth the risk he was taking.

To me there was a correction to be made- and those people should be ashamed- and if a job had to be sacraficed to do the right thing, so be it.

Perhaps he could not have forgiven himself if he did not take a stance.

The example he set speaks for itself.

Excellent post, I agree totally... and again, I'm not saying that what Garcia did was "wrong" from a moral standpoint, just from a purely business standpoint.

But yeah, he had gotten to know the Castillo family, and it sounds like you are correct, I don't think Garcia would have felt very good if he didn't say something.

Garcia probably knew that doing what he did could possibly cost him his job (I hope it doesn't). But he did it anyway, so good for him!

Personally, I hope that business explodes for that restaurant after this incident. I'd love to see that.

[Janice]

Originally Posted by Tweety

While I can see people's point that what the waiter did was admirable in its own way, it's really not his (the Waiter's) decision as to whether or not to serve someone. The other family was rude, but that doesn't necessarily negate their right to expect to be served in the restaurant.

If the waiter had checked with the Owner (or at least the manager), that would be one thing. But frankly, waiters have no business deciding who is and who isn't entitled to eat at a restaurant, unless of course some type of physical threat is made.

I personally think even the Owner would be going a bit far by refusing to serve that rude family, but at least that would be a business decision appropriate for that level of responsibility.

I'm sure Mr. Garcia is a fine gentleman, and I agree that the second family was very rude and insensitive. But as far as service goes, it's not really Garcia's decision to make, especially on the spot like that.

Perhaps Garcia could have accomplished the same thing (i.e. standing up for the Castillo family) by going to the manager on duty and saying "I refuse to serve that family, and here's why... ". Then let the Manager make the call.

I agree. I've worked in many, many eateries in my lifetime, and I've never met an owner refuse to serve anyone because of something a server overheard. What I can see happening is the waiter refusing to wait on that family and another server taking over and serving them. The bottom line with owners is money, and the rude party were regulars as well.