Twitter
Advertisement

Kolkata: Mocambo's refusal to serve a driver shows class untouchability is rampant in urban India

A shameful act for one of the oldest and celebrated restaurant of Kolkata.

Latest News
article-main
Mocambo at Park Street
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

If you've heard tales about Indians being denied entry into restaurants under the British Raj, this story from Kolkata will make you wonder if we've progressed much since those times.

On Friday, Dilashi Hemnani visited one of the premier restaurants of Kolkata​ - Mocambo in Park Street - to have dinner with her driver as a gesture of gratitude for his good service. But not only was she refused a table because of her driver, but they also had to eventually walk away insulted.

Initially, they were kept waiting as the restaurant staff said there were not enough seats. But after the waiting time kept increasing, she was made aware that this was because of her driver's attire. When Dilashi insisted that he was neatly dressed, the restaurant claimed that her driver Manish bhaiya was drunk.

After some heated arguments, they were still not allowed admission into the restaurant by the staff who cited that though they did not have a written dress code, they were a fine dine restaurant and could not allow just anyone to enter. A disappointed Dilashi was left asking, "How shallow and inhuman have we become?"

Read Dilashi's Facebook post here: 

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 bhaiya 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 than 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 )

When Vagabomb reached out to Mocambo to get a response they claimed, "The driver was very indecently dressed... Just wearing one pant and shirt, but he was not in proper state. He was having roadside food and just standing, not in proper state of mind. He was not acceptable in our fine dining restaurant. We told her (Dilashi Hemnani) we cannot give her driver a table, but we can give her one. We've such high standard guests coming here, it's a fine dining restaurant, we cannot have such a roadsider coming and sitting here.

"We do not have a dress code. But at least a person should be neat and clean. He was having roadside jhalmuri, walking around and grazing people. That is not acceptable. How could you have a roadsider coming in to your restaurant? This is not a dhaba."

Meanwhile, Dilashi's post has gone viral on social media and has generated a lot of outrage against the restaurant, with many pledging to boycott it or downgrade its ratings on Zomato.

The discontent is clear when some of the recent reviews from Zomato are read:

Subham Das: "To Mocambo staff and restraunt Who 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.Shame on you."

Corryann Amara: "This restaurant should be deleted from zomato. Inhuman and shallow people. Shame on them. Never going to visit this place again. Will pass this incident around too. This is what they deserve."

Ishita Majumdar: "They don't even deserve a rating after the recent incident  of refusing to serve a driver. Shame on such filthy racist management. I don't think I'm going back to this restaurant ever again. You are a disgrace on the name of hospitality. I hope team Zomato takes an action on this."

The Food Guzzler: "Couldn't believe what I read about Mocambo. A childhood favorite when we used to reside in Kolkata, although the staff was high-handed during that time itself, but the food somehow compensated it. The racist behavior of their meted out to the person is deplorable, made us feel ashamed that once we patronised this place. SHAMEFUL.... Request all to boycott this place and enjoy at numerous other places in Park Street or elsewhere. The place needs to learn the basics of humanity, serving good food comes much later. "

You can read more reviews on Zomato here.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement