Kolkata: Hotel Mocambo on Park Street in Kolkata wouldn't have seen this coming. Until September 9, in the 60-year-old fine dining restaurant in the City of Joy, everything was business as usual.
Oddly enough, Mocambo now finds itself embroiled in a controversy which is threatening to tarnish its reputation.
On Friday evening, a Mumbai based lady named Dilashi Hemnani, a Marketing Manager with Tata Motors walked into Mocambo along with her driver but failed to secure a seat even after waiting for more than 45 minutes and multiple requests to the staff.
Outraged at their behavior, Hemnani went on to allege that the restaurant deliberately chose to keep her away because she was accompanied by her driver who didn't meet the restaurant's standards of an ideal customer.
Hemnani's post (read full post in the end) on social media has garnered a lot of views. Some readers have even decided to boycott the restaurant.
In the post she stated that they first informed her that a table would be available for two within 15 minutes which later on changed to 45 minutes after seeing the driver.
After 10 minutes she noticed the tables were empty and diners who had walked in after her were given a table.
She asked for the Manager and one of the staff who spoke to her asked her who she was with, signaling towards the driver and stated he was not dressed properly for a fine dine restaurant.
The driver who understood bits and pieces of the conversation offered to walk away. But the lady would have none of it, asking if there was a dress code, which there was none.
When she asked to talk to the Manager, another staff who refused to give out his name when she asked him, says the driver was drunk and hence would not be allowed in.
Furious, she asked how he came to the conclusion. The staff said he was informed by his colleague.
But when she asked him to prove the same, the staff had no valid explanation saying he was told so by his colleague. Furious, Hemnani walked away saying she did not want to dine at a racist restaurant that discriminates between class of people.
When we contacted Mocambo, the head steward Sean Sams said, "We never said he was drunk. He was not neatly dressed and not clean. We are a 60-year-old fine dine restaurant.
We have allowed under privileged people to have dinner here before. People have come here earlier with their drivers and maids."
How will Mocambo's reputation be impacted over the coming days is what Kolkatans will decide. There are some people who have come out on social media in support of Mocambo and say they will continue to patronize the restaurant.
The Congress held a demonstration on Tuesday afternoon outside Mocambo asking for the manager to be arrested.
Here is the social media post by Dilashi Hemnani:
How shallow and inhuman have we become ?
Last night being my last day in Kolkata decided to try out this popular restaurant called Mocambo' at Park Street .I decided to go with my driver - Manish bhaiyya here whose great service and care throughout my stay in Kolkata for a week was excellent.
(Also yesterday afternoon he missed his lunch because I forgot to tell him to go for lunch - uncertain about the time it would take me to finish the meeting - he missed his lunch)
Guilty of my mistake. I decided to go out for dinner with him.
As soon as I reached Mocambo at around 8:40 PM. I asked the staff to give me a table for 2.
Staff : There is a waiting of 15 minutes.
Me : *as excited I was to try out this popular joint *happily agreed.
Staff :* by this time they observed I was with Manish bhaiya * walked up to me and said it will take 45 minutes for the table to get ready .
Me : *little confused by time communicated *earlier ...now eagerly asked but you said 15 minutes
Staff : yes the table was going to get empty but they ordered for more food
Me : *peeping through the glass windows *but I can see some empty tables inside .
Staff : they are four seaters.. today is Friday we cannot give that table .
Me: ok
After waiting for 10-15 minutes . When I see people who came after me getting the table .
Me : why are you not giving me the table ?
Staff : Maam we can't give you a table
Me : But why ?
Staff : who are you with
Me : subtly pointing towards Manish bhaiya .
Staff : aahhh....Maam he is not properly dressed .
Me : * he was cleanly dressed in a cream trouser and a shirt tucked out .. And floaters *
I asked what is your dress code ?
Staff : we don't have a dress code .
Me : then ??
Staff :No No he is not properly dressed it's a fine dine restaurant
Me : *agitated by now *what's wrong with his dressing tell me and is there a written dress code he is not following ?
By this time Manish bhaiya understood parts of the conversation in English and by the daunting looks of the staff - walks up to me and says - 'Didi hum Nahi Khaenge aap Khana Kha lijiyega na '
Me : *hurt with his innocence and inhuman inconsiderate behaviour of the staff at Mocambo*
Me : call your manager give me a valid reason why he cannot come in .
Staff : goes and calls another person
Me : sir why can't he come in ?
Staff : because he is drunk
Me : *furious and baffled with the audacity of the staff *How do you know he is drunk ?
Staff : because my other colleague told me he is so
Me : on what basis due you make such assumptions . Did he drink in front of you or did you even go near him * they were standing 2-3 meters apart *He is driving me around since 8 o clock in the morning leave apart being drunk he is not even had food
Staff : but I know he is drunk
Me : prove it then
Me : what's your name
Staff : I can't tell you my name
Me : why ?
Staff : No No I can't it's just I can't let you in with him
Me : I Don't want to get in to your racist restaurant walks away with Manish bhaiya with deep grief in my heart on how Inhuman and shallow the world has become :(
Manish bhaiya is one of the finest human beings I have met in a long time he took good care of me and did his duty with all his heart .He is a simple man make 275 Rs a day for 12 hours of driving and sends more then half of the money back home . he has a difficult life Still he laughs a lot shares a lot of stories and is more human and empathetic then any I know .
To Mocambo staff and restaurant at Park Street Kolkata Which doesn't consider human as human and differentiates, discriminates and stratifies them into classes just because he doesn't fit into your description of a perfect customer.
(doesn't own a iPhone maybe doesn't talk in English ) I m sorry you don't deserve a fine human like Manish bhaiya sitting and eating in your racist restaurant.
( Disclaimer : This is entirely based on my personal experience and has no relation with my organisation / profession )
Comments
0 comment