NJ mother says restaurant is denied service because of autistic son

A New Jersey mother is asking for an apology after she says a restaurant refused to serve her and her 2.5-year-old autistic son, a moment she captured on video and has since gone viral.

Heather, who asked that her last name not be shared, said she was “in complete shock” when a manager at Houston’s restaurant in Hackensack asked her to leave because of her son’s behavior.

“I think every child with a disability has the right to dine where he or she wants,” says Heather.

Heather said the incident started last Friday when she arrived at the restaurant with her son Hopper and a friend. She put their names on the waiting list and noted that the staff at the desk knew she was with a toddler. However, once seated, she asked for a high chair but was told the restaurant does not provide one.

“I said, ‘Can I take his stroller? He has to be strapped in; he has a disability and can’t sit in a restaurant unless he’s strapped in,'” Heather explained. When the request was denied, she asked to speak to the manager.

Heather managed to calm her son down after he became fussy, and the table placed their orders. But when the food arrived, so did the manager, who informed Heather that they would not be serving it.

In the video, which has now been viewed more than 15 million times, the manager can be heard saying, “We’re going to cut this off tonight. Sorry, but we won’t be serving you tonight.”

“It was extremely difficult to see that happen to my son,” Heather said. “He was recently diagnosed, so I haven’t even fully processed it yet, so it’s kind of my first time advocating for him.”

Houston’s, part of the Hillstone Restaurant Group, has a policy on its website explaining that the dining environment may not be ideal for young children.

The policy states: “We do not provide child seats or allow strollers in the dining room.”

Hillstone Restaurant Group also asks parents to keep children at the table and to calm vocal babies outside the dining room.

Heather told FOX 5 she wouldn’t have gone to Houston if she had known about the restrictions. “If I knew they wouldn’t have high chairs, no, I wouldn’t have gone.”

Heather is still waiting for an apology from the restaurant. FOX 5 reached out to Houston for comment, but they directed questions to guest services, which has not yet responded.