An Applebee's location near Houston has been put in the spotlight after reportedly mishandling an incident concerning the behavior of two children eating with their family.
The Applebee's in Texas called the police on a man, his wife and their two children, and had them escorted from the restaurant because they claimed the young boys were being too loud, KHOU News reported.
"They're kind of active," Eli Gau said of his sons, ages 1 and 3. "They act like children. They're not adults."
The oldest boy reportedly wandered away from the table, promoting his father to chase and grab him. As Gau tended to his son, a manger approached him and warned the family about their behavior.
"I went and grabbed him," Gau said. "As I was grabbing him and coming back, the manager was walking to me."
Gau said the manager informed him that he had called the police. As the family left the restaurant, they were greeted by a Harris County Sheriff's Deputy who issued them a warning for criminal trespassing.
"I feel disrespected," wife and mother Lillian Maliti told KHOU 11.
Gau reportedly called the family as well, saying his family felt threatened by the manger's actions.
The report stated there were no arrest or warnings made and that the paper given to the family was not a warning but rather an information card that provides a reference number for the case. A spokesperson for Applebee's, which advertises itself as being "family-friendly," issued an apology the following day.
"Our franchise owner-operator has apologized to the Guest and invited the party back into their restaurant to demonstrate the standard of service each of our Guests deserve to receive during every visit," the statement read. "As a brand, our focus is and must always be providing the best possible experience for all of our Guests at all times. When a disruption in our restaurants affects any of our Guests, it is the manager's responsibility to step in to resolve the situation.
"It is exceedingly rare that a situation requires the assistance of law enforcement, and our franchisee is using this instance as a teaching moment to better manage future disruptions in their restaurants."
Applebee's headquarters said they believe that the situation was handled poorly by restaurant management.The family has also been offered a free diner.
"[We want to] demonstrate the standard of service each of our Guests deserve to receive during every visit," the statement read.
