1 /5 Ricky: I took my wife to Don Tello’s Tex-Mex Grill in Conyers on Monday for her birthday. Our experience started well, but it quickly turned disappointing due to how a concern was handled.
Someone in our group noticed my wife was only eating her rice and beans, not her tacos. When asked, my wife quietly mentioned that the tacos were very dry and difficult to eat, but she wasn’t going to complain. Out of care for my wife, a member of our group politely asked for the waitress so the issue could be addressed.
The waitress brought the manager on duty — a younger woman named Glenys. From the moment she approached the table, her tone was confrontational. Rather than listening, she immediately spoke to my wife in a harsh and dismissive manner, as if she were preparing for an argument. My wife is soft-spoken and gentle, so the interaction was shocking.
When my wife explained that the tacos were dry, the manager pointed her finger and told her they were dry because she “waited 20 minutes to eat them,” insisting they were fine when prepared in the kitchen. She continued talking over my wife, dominating the conversation instead of resolving the concern. Everyone at the table was stunned — it felt like we were watching one of those viral restaurant clips, except it was happening to us in real time.
My wife simply said it was okay. The manager rushed away and stated she would take half off the tacos “but that’s it.” My wife declined any discount and asked for the item to remain on the bill.
After sitting quietly for a few minutes, I asked our waitress to speak with someone above the manager. She informed me that this was the only manager on duty, and she was working the bar. I asked for her name.
When the manager returned, I addressed her professionally. I thanked her for coming, acknowledged her point about timing, and even expressed appreciation for offering a discount. Then I calmly explained that her tone, body language, finger pointing, and overall approach were rude and offensive.
She immediately cut me off and said, “You feel that way because you are American. I am Dominican, and this is how Dominicans talk. I wasn’t rude, and I gave you half off. I addressed your issue. If you feel that way, I’m sorry.” She then walked away.
This is the first time I have ever left a restaurant feeling not only upset, but genuinely disgusted by how we were treated. Everyone in our group felt the same but tried to remain positive. We didn’t come only for food — we came for a joyful birthday experience. Instead, my wife was saddened and offended.
For context: I am a Black man, my wife is Haitian, and my uncle (who could not attend) is Dominican. Our family has deep connections across cultures, so this incident had nothing to do with ethnicity — it was simply unprofessional behavior. Even if someone has a strong personality, customer service requires restraint, respect, and awareness. What happened was unacceptable for any manager representing a business.
The waitress later brought out cake and staff sang “Happy Birthday,” but the mood was ruined. My wife smiled for our guests — many of whom are church family — but I could tell she was genuinely hurt.
We were not seeking free food. In fact, I still left a generous tip for our waitress beyond the 18% gratuity included on the bill. My wife could have chosen any restaurant, but she wanted tacos and wanted to stay local. We have supported this business multiple times over the years, but after this experience, we will not be returning.
I hope ownership or upper management reads this and addresses the issue — not for compensation, but because no customer should be spoken to or treated this way.
