Last night I attended a coworker's birthday celebration at this restaurant. I will never patronize this business again. Aside from the food and drinks being overpriced and mediocre, my guest and I, who are both African-American, were made to feel unwelcome and unwanted from the moment we arrived at the restaurant. A man with spiky dark hair who demanded “Who are you here for?” rudely greeted my guest and me at the door. He stared us down as if we clearly did not belong in the establishment. I told him the name of the party I was meeting. He checked a list twice, and then snatched back the velvet rope so we could enter. Once my guest and I entered the restaurant, we were not welcomed or directed to the coat check, but given red wristbands. No one else in our party, save for the Latino couple we sat with, were wearing the wristbands. My guest and I felt very singled out and uncomfortable.
The wait staff was inattentive and had the nerve to charge the party extra for serving the birthday cake. My guest and I went downstairs to use the ATM when a security guard approached her to flirt. When she complained about the treatment we had received, he recommended that she choose to dine and socialize in Harlem. He also pointed out, “That happens sometimes” and “Not that it’s right, but you’re just not the crowd that they (the restaurant) are trying to cater to.” The manager and employees of One Little West 12 Restaurant are breaking the law and should be put out of business. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and I hope that future patrons will change their minds about spending their hard-earned money at a business that provides such poor service. If I could have given One Little West 12 negative stars, I would have.
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