Posted on 05/10/2023 8:07:05 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Seguin resident Selena Palomares and her family have been going to Taco Tejano for over 15 years. When her family tried to eat at the restaurant recently, they were turned away because of her children.
Palomares shared her experience at the Seguin Tex-Mex restaurant on social media on May 3.
It had been a few months since the family went to the Tex-Mex spot, which that day consisted of her 2- and 3-year-old daughters, her mother, and herself. Her mom entered the restaurant first to use the restroom. Palomares was getting her daughters out of the car while her mom was getting high chairs and a table ready.
As Palomares started to enter the restaurant, her mother came out and told her they aren't welcome in Taco Tejano.
"I have my two children in my hands and that's when she pulls me to the side and she's like, 'They said that we couldn't go inside and eat there because the kids make a mess and we don't clean up after them,"' Palomares claimed.
Embarrassed by the situation, Palomares said she couldn't bring herself to go inside and speak with the waitress, so she left and took her gripe to social media.
"Every time we go out to eat I clean up after my kids, my kids aren't throwing chairs around, they're not running around the restaurant or tossing food across the restaurant—that's not what is happening," Palomares said.
Palomares said she doesn't know any of the employees outside of the restaurant setting personally, so nothing was malicious. But a social media post on the Taco Tejano page made Palomares feel like the restaurant was trying to target her family.
She did note that her kids do drop food on the floor as toddlers do from time to time, but she says she never left a restaurant so messy that someone would need to ban them from eating in the restaurant, which is exactly what happened.
"Based on the last time they were in here, I personally made the decision to refuse service to them. Basically, that was all that was said when the mom came in by herself," said Taco Tejano owner Alicia Sepeda. "Just because of certain issues we're going to refuse the right to service, period."
Staff was polite when speaking to Palomares' mother, Sepeda noted.
"I really want to remain respectful to everyone involved," Sepeda said. "I made a professional business decision based on my customer complaints, and how employees were being treated and that was it."
"It was because of all the comments that were made about the kids because we never said that period, it was said by her, but it wasn't said by us," Sepeda said. "You have to find a little bit of humor in it when people bash you."
On Thursday, May 4, Palomares' mother and sister both went to the drive-thru to apologize for the incident spreading over social media. Sepeda told the two she appreciated the apology, there are no "hard feelings," and they are still allowed to order in the drive-thru.
When MySA asked if the family would be allowed back into the Seguin restaurant, she replied, "No."
"If she's upset about that she could have called me, woman to a woman, and talked to me. I would have been more than happy to talk to her and explain to her why," Sepeda said. "But at this point, it doesn't really matter why the decision was made and I'm going to stick by it, especially now."
Facebook post from Taco Tejano....
https://www.facebook.com/TacoTejano/posts/695745565892071
“so she left and took her gripe to social media”
The bane of 21st century America.
Sounds like reasonable and smart management.
And the management have no problem with the mother and kids getting food via the drive-thru.
Excellent response!
Speaking as a parent that raised 2 kids, i can’t imagine not minding them and allowing a mess to be made.
I don’t “do” social media, but if I did, this mother would be told some “what for”.
Where’s the father? I was the mean guy that put boundaries on our child, it started before the age of 2 & 3. Good for the restaurant.
Good. I have seen little kids make a total mess and the parents just sit there as if nothing is going on. I once left a place when one with lousy kids, when the mother put the baby ON THE TABLE, to change a loaded diaper while the toddlers were running around making a mess. I bet she even left the diaper on the table for the waiter to dispose of. I would eat at this taco shop but it is a bit of a commute being 2000 miles away...
Good. I would eat there. It sounds like this place has good management.
The restaurant is lucky this lady absorbed the shock of criticism and wuietly left the facility. They didn’t go nuts because someone said they were messy. They didnt yell or break any windows to get even. That said, it would be nice if the restaurant gave this Mom another chance to bring her girls there.
We have been in certain restaurants, national chains, that are filthy because their customers kids make huge messes, and the staff won’t clean the booth until closing time.
I blame the parents and the staff..............
That a restaraunt owner, in a taco shop, REMEMBERED the mother and kids to start is a huge tip off. Something must have been VERY bad on their last visit.
I would suspect, based on this incident, and the wide spread publicity, i would not be surprised if other restaraunts actually end up banning them as well.
This type of behaviour is generally not a one off. it is probably typical of them and the mother just refuses to acknowledge or adress it.
Do they have a ‘No kids allowed’ sign? If they do, then I don’t see anything wrong. If they have a highchair in the restaurant, she has the right to complain. Kids do make messes, however the parents should clean up after them, not the restaurant staff.
Taco Tejano
6d ·
We hate to have to make a post like this, but there are a few things we feel the need to clear up.
1. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
2. We will not haggle on our prices. The prices are clearly posted on the menu.
3. We try to quickly and efficiently remedy any mistakes we may make on your orders, but lying to get free or discounted items won’t be tolerated. We’re honest, hard working people & would appreciate honesty in return.
4. Disrespecting my employees is not tolerated. Any issue you may have can be discussed with the owners.
5. Any past employees are no longer working for us for a reason!
I made a professional business decision based on customer complaints and how our employees were being treated. Thank you and god bless.
https://www.facebook.com/TacoTejano/posts/695745565892071
That said, it would be nice if the restaurant gave this Mom another chance to bring her girls there.
____________________________________
I don’t think so. Read the FB post in reply 2. I think the mom was guilty of each point. Plus I doubt she was a decent tipper as well.
Messy kids were probably just one of many problems this restaurant had with her.
If management lets her back in, they will likely lose other good customers as a result.
A no BS policy sounds fine to me.
Posting the Facebook post. This adds to the story. Mom appears to be a real....
Taco Tejano
We hate to have to make a post like this, but there are a few things we feel the need to clear up.
1. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
2. We will not haggle on our prices. The prices are clearly posted on the menu.
3. We try to quickly and efficiently remedy any mistakes we may make on your orders, but lying to get free or discounted items won’t be tolerated. We’re honest, hard working people & would appreciate honesty in return.
4. Disrespecting my employees is not tolerated. Any issue you may have can be discussed with the owners.
5. Any past employees are no longer working for us for a reason!
I made a professional business decision based on customer complaints and how our employees were being treated. Thank you and god bless.
I have a restaurant memory from Seguin from about 20 years ago. We had some family land southeast of town and we were deer hunting and decided to come to town for a meal. My son was about five and he was pushing his tray along with a glass bottle of RC Cola. The bottle fell off and shattered on the floor. A piece of glass flew up and cut his cheek about two inches below his eye. He still has the scar today. Mumsy was not happy when we got home.
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