I am writing to express my deep disappointment regarding the experience my Latina partner and I had during our visit to Public House on January 13th around 3:00 PM. We have been loyal patrons of your establishment for quite some time, including before the ownership change to Jay Brent. Unfortunately, this incident was unacceptable and has made it clear that this will be our last visit.

Upon our arrival, the host greeted us politely and professionally, informing us we could seat ourselves. We selected a table near the center of the dining room, informed the host of our choice, and received acknowledgement before sitting down. Within minutes, our server came by, and we placed our order.

Shortly thereafter, a middle-aged woman with gray hair—who was not the host—approached our table. In a loud and stern voice, she told me, “Next time you need to wait to be seated.” Her tone and manner were unnecessarily harsh and condescending. I explained that we had informed the host of our seating choice and received approval, but she showed no willingness to listen, and her demeanor remained rude and dismissive. The interaction was humiliating and disruptive, especially as it occurred in full view of other patrons.

Upset by this treatment, I approached the host stand to address the situation directly with this woman, whom I now refer to as “Karen” due to her unprofessional behavior. I told her that no one has the right to speak to us—or anyone—like that in a service establishment. I also made it clear that her comment about “next time” would, in fact, be the last time we visit. She said nothing in response, showing a complete lack of accountability. At that point, I decided to cancel our order and leave. I left $20 to cover the coffee we had received but walked out feeling deeply disrespected and unwelcome.

This is not the first time we’ve experienced discomfort at Public House. During a visit last month, while seated near the bar, my partner and I endured unwelcome stares and whispers from other patrons, which made for an equally unpleasant experience. These repeated incidents have left us feeling singled out and unwelcome.

Following this most recent encounter, we chose to take our business to Sa•vor Tapas Bar instead, where the concept of hospitality is genuinely understood. The contrast in how we were treated there was night and day and served as a stark reminder of what excellent service looks like.

We’ve also noticed a decline in the overall atmosphere and management approach at Public House since the ownership change. While your servers consistently provide excellent service, the menu has remained stagnant, and interactions with management often leave the impression that customers are doing the establishment a favor by dining there.

This type of experience is unacceptable in any business, especially one that should pride itself on hospitality. It’s even more disheartening to see similar complaints from other People of Color who, like us, felt unwelcome or unfairly treated. Our money is worth the same as anyone else’s, and all guests deserve to be treated with respect.

I hope you take this feedback seriously and address these issues to improve the experience for future guests. If not, I fear that this approach will inevitably lead to declining business and a difficult future for your establishment. Respecting and welcoming all patrons is not a big ask—it’s the bare minimum.