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- On Saturday January 13, 2024, 7-7:30PM, Me (Indian American), my wife and my Son Zewen Liu went to Applebee’s Restaurant Located at 6310 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
Our names were noted on an empty pad and we were told to wait for few minutes until a table was available. Subsequently, several parties of 3+ persons of White / Black ethnicities arrived and were not asked to wait nor were their names entered in the pad for waiting list. They did not have any reservations, nor did they disclose their names to the seater. They were immediately escorted to their tables. - We were then told to wait 15 more minutes.
Another set of patrons of Black/White ethnicities with parties of 3-5 arrived and were immediately shown to their tables without any waiting. They had no reservations and were new arrivals - Subsequently we were asked by the restaurant staff if we wanted to sit SEPARATELY -- as an interfacial couple and family we were very offended.
No prior parties were ever asked if they wanted to sit separately. in response we were again told no tables were available - When we asked for the manager, he came over and looked at us in hostility and went off somewhere else while the staff insisted, we sit separately. In the meantime, 2 more parties of 3 and 4 were immediately given their tables - The manager reappeared and was dismissive of our allegations of racial discrimination. He insinuated I had mental issues. He flippantly dismissed his staff to tend to table even while I wanted some explanations from them. – he asked if we wanted a table now and I refused as I felt they could not be trusted with our food based on our experience. The manager smirked, grinned and insinuated that I was mentally incompetent in retaliation to the assertion of my civil rights and immediately seated another couple without asking them to wait or confirm a reservation. The manager refused to discuss/explain the experience further and abandoned the scene without any further consolation or explanations.
Desired outcome: Cooperation in Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation by Department of Justice
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OP for the past few years [i think i started seeing it used in 2013] restaurants have used reservations via their app. so these parties may have used the app to alert Applebee's that they were there so they would get seated faster.
the situation you found yourself in is a blemish on the company I'm sure. As for on going litigation [if there is] you should not discuss it to the public. The defense can use it against you in court as a reason for dismissal.
This is why you might hear on the news or press releases "we can not discuss details about this do to on going litigation."
Applebee's does not take reservations. It's referred to as "call-ahead seating" and there is a big difference.
I highly doubt in an area such as Alexandria, VA/D.C., that anyone cared about you being an interracial couple. The area is such a melting pot of different races/cultures. Also, if you have an ongoing legal investigation, the first thing you would have/should have been told is do not discuss with the media. Why are you contacting the restaurant and not the DOJ?