In a video shared by TikTok repost account @worldkingdom123, a family outing ended abruptly when a server in this restaurant took away their food and asked them to leave, allegedly due to the family’s autistic child. As the mother explained, they had requested a high chair and, lacking that, asked to keep the stroller at the table, as her son requires seating support to remain settled. The video caption read, “Kicked out of a restaurant because the waiter anticipated my friend’s autistic child would become disruptive,” sparking both outrage and questions online.
Houston’s in Bergen County, New Jersey, a location known for upscale dining, reportedly declined service to the family after an initial exchange about seating. “Sorry, but we won’t be serving you tonight. All right, I appreciate it. Have a good night,” the server said, with the mom responding in disbelief. “For real?” asked her friend, as the mother put her child in a stroller and left.
Restaurant Policies and Dining Guidelines for Children
Houston’s dining guidelines specify a preference for keeping dining areas free from young children:
“Our restaurants are generally not the best environment for young children. We welcome families, but we ask parents to keep children at the table and calm vocal infants or youngsters outside of the dining room. We do not offer child seating nor do we allow strollers in the dining room.”
For parents of children with unique needs, like autism, such policies can pose challenges. In the follow-up video, the mother clarified, explaining her son’s need for seating support due to his tendency to wander.
Legal and Social Responses: Is Refusal Legal?
U.S. law protects against discrimination based on certain characteristics under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Autism qualifies as a disability, but businesses can still enforce policies, especially when not directly targeting specific disabilities.
Cases like this one aren’t isolated. A similar incident at Friendly’s in Philadelphia and other reports suggest this experience is not unusual.
Divided Public Reactions
The video quickly gained millions of views and mixed reactions:
“The outburst at the end tells me a lot more happened that wasn’t filmed and there is more to this story,” said one commenter.
“It’s kind of a silent rule you just don’t bring kids younger than 5, unless they can sit tight,” shared another.
Parents’ experiences with public dining often come down to restaurant policy and personal discretion, leaving room for ongoing debate.
For families navigating these scenarios, balancing their children’s needs with restaurant guidelines can be challenging. How should restaurants address family needs while maintaining their dining environment? As more incidents come to light, the conversation around accessibility in public spaces continues to grow.
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