We’ve all experienced it: you’re out to eat and there’s a family with some active kids whose noise level is a little above normal. But we get over it, right? Well it seems like this Applebees franchise located in Texas took a more hands on approach.
Eli Gau took his wife Lillian Maliti and their children out to eat at the “family-friendly” restaurant chain Sunday night. Gau describes three-year-old Ryan and one-year-old Ethan as “kind of active. They act like children. They’re not adults.” It seems one of the boys was up out of his seat, and Gau went to go grab him, but it was too late; the manager was already heading toward him.
The manager said that the kids were making too much noise, the family needed to leave immediately, and informed them that he already called the police. Harris County Sheriffs were waiting outside. A deputy told the family if they came back to the restaurant, they would be charged with trespassing.
Gau and Maliti described their feelings to KHOU as “disrespected”, “stunned” and “heartbroken”. A spokesperson from Applebees apologized for the situation, stating that the management team was out of line and invited the family to come back and enjoy free dinner passes.
Applebees’s corporate made the following statement:
“Our franchise owner-operator has apologized to the Guest and invited the party back into their restaurant to demonstrate the standard of service each of our Guests deserve to receive during every visit. As a brand, our focus is and must always be providing the best possible experience for all of our Guests at all times. When a disruption in our restaurants affects any of our Guests, it is the manager’s responsibility to step in to resolve the situation. It is exceedingly rare that a situation requires the assistance of law enforcement, and our franchisee is using this instance as a teaching moment to better manage future disruptions in their restaurants.”
BMWK – check out the video below where Eli Gau explains how his family was disrespected. Do you think the Applebees manager went to far?
phylicia pope says
If they couldn’t control the kids in front of the camera, I can only imagine how they were in the restaurant. I think calling the police was a little much and the situation could have been handled differently. If you have smaller children or children at all and you can’t control your kids in public then you might want to place some limitations until you learn to find a better way to control the situation. I have 5 year old twins. I know how it feels and I used to leave places because ppl begin to stare. However, when they got a little better at being able to sit without being disruptive in public places then we go out more to eat and now I never have a issue going out. I actually always get compliments about how well behaved they are.
Margaret says
I feel like some of the details were left out here. Sometimes I wish parents would have some compassion for others and voluntarily leave when their young children are obviously tired or too distracted to enjoy a meal out.
I will reserve my judgment until I hear more about what happened in the restaurant I wish they had interviewed some of the patrons.
Anonymous says
Parents love their children and expect other people to feel the same way-out wrong. Parents need to know what kind of settings their children do well in, and parents need to get a hold of their kids. If I am out for a romantic evening with my man, I dont want to hear no bad, ill mannered, or special needs child.
Parents who can’t control their kids need to keep them home.
Frank Rogers says
I understand now why I hasn’t been in Applebees in years. Never like the food and they team of worker. They’re rude,obnoxious and absolute just #RATCHET.
Elisa says
Its Applebee’s! Not some quiet, quaint, romantic place. They play music, have t.v.s on, and most people are in there having drinks and talking a bit louder and having a good time. Sounds like a great place to take kids. And can we please all remember that we used to be those kids. You weren’t pooped out as a proper adult. The best practice for good behavior is exposure.
Dorothea Davis says
IT WAS 10 PM!!!!! You just GET YOUR FOOD TO GO!!!! Bathe, feed, and put your kids to bed and then you and mama relax!! They need parenting lessons! FOR REAL! I wish them and their children well.
Mama's Guide says
When is calling the police an acceptable solution for dealing with unruly children? Certainly give the parents a chance to fix it, even let them know its time to go, but calling the cops is going way too far. Ill be interested to know if they accept the invite to go back.
leah says
Wow, this apple bees in Texas should be ashamed of themselves. Did they really think that was the proper way to handle the situation?? smh…the manager was probably some old bigot too who didn’t want to deal with a black family and instead of coming to them about their children, they just decide to call the cops and threaten to charge them with trespassing if they ever came back. Now they want to offer them a free meal after the fact…LOL! please! I know I’m making assumptions but you never know.