Desi Vega’s Seafood and Prime Steaks released a statement to social media on Monday apologizing for a wait-staff member who allegedly racially profiled a Black couple by inappropriately adding a 20% gratuity to their dining bill.
“The fact that my staff tried to cover the situation up by lying about it makes it much worse,” said the statement. “Desi Vega’s stands firmly against discrimination or profiling of any kind.”
The two employees involved have been suspended without pay according to the restaurant.
James Washington and his wife, Yasmin Racquel, were on a date night and decided to eat at Desi Vega’s. When they received their bill at the end of the dinner they found a 20% gratuity added. When they contested the gratuity the staff member allegedly told them it was restaurant policy to add gratuity to a party of two. Desi Vega’s says that is not true.
In a social media post, Washington says the restaurant owner personally reached out to him and arranged an in-person meeting to apologize for being unfairly treated. The couple accepted the apology and asked the restaurant to implement bias training for their employees and display the restaurant's true gratuity policy.