The founder of Cleveland-based Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere says he was asked to leave a local Olive Garden after their server said she "doesn't like serving blacks."
Ricky Smith posted his account of the incident on Twitter Tuesday night.
Just got asked to leave @olivegarden because we asked for a new server because our server said she doesn't like serving blacks...
— Ricky Smith (@Rickonia) November 30, 2016
And it was a black waitress who said she doesn't like serving blacks.
— Ricky Smith (@Rickonia) November 30, 2016
According to Smith, after their waitress made the remark, they asked to speak to a manager who said their options were to have her as their waitress or to leave. They chose not to leave the restaurant and told the manager to call the police.
When Parma police arrived, they told Smith Olive Garden had the right to ask them to leave.
And we took an Uber out here so we are just in the parking lot of @olivegarden. #hungry pic.twitter.com/9G0RHFCAxT
— Ricky Smith (@Rickonia) November 30, 2016
The Parma police was cool in handling the situation but told us it was in @olivegarden's right to ask us to leave the restaurant
— Ricky Smith (@Rickonia) November 30, 2016
Olive Garden issued a statement about the incident Monday night:
We find this deeply concerning. All guests are welcome at Olive Garden. We are currently investigating the matter.
