Texas Customers Boycott Restaurant Because Owner is Mexican

In the face of our current political climate, there is room for all kinds of freedom of speech expressions. Within the same week, several trending stories about how people are choosing to voice their political views are capturing our attention. These are statements at the bottom of restaurant receipts that convey much more than the price of a meal. 

According to Munchies, in San Antonio, Texas, two patrons left this message: “The food was tasty, the service was attentive. However, the owner is ‘Mexican.’ We will not return. ‘America first.’” Many things come to mind after reading this statement, including the incorrect use of quotation marks. Evidently, they wanted to cite President Trump’s slogan to state their position against immigrants, specifically Mexicans. But how is it that a perfectly satisfying dining experience can be spoiled by knowing the owner was born in Mexico? It is worrisome when the tolerance is running so thin, that even in a restaurant, these guests considered it acceptable to write an offensive note and leave it on the table. 

MORE: This Brooklyn Restaurant is Supporting Immigrants in the Best Way.

Chef Fernando Franco is originally from Mexico City and opened Di Frabo Ristorante Italiano in 2014. He’s working and living in San Antonio on an E-2 investor visa. “I was surprised about how somebody would write down something like that,” Franco said in a telephone interview to San Antonio Express News. “I don’t know what they were thinking when they wrote it. I have no idea who did it or even how they knew that I am Mexican. I’m assuming because I was working and speaking Spanish. I’m not a blond guy, I’m a typical Latino guy.” 

It’s surprising how even cities with such vast diversity as San Antonio and New York are still struggling with the idea that Latinos and other ethnicities make a community stronger. Let’s not forget that this diversity, especially in the kitchen, is what makes the best culinary experiences. It is a reality that in most restaurants, immigrants cook and serve most of the meals served. In Brooklyn, New York, Chef Mark Simmons is printing the message: “Immigrants make America great (they also cooked your food and served you today)” on all his checks. These messages are going viral on Facebook and Twitter, creating a lot of controversy but also showing support for immigrants and the hospitality industry.