Kristina Liedags Compton and Rachel Silcocks, co-owners of the San Francisco restaurant Hilda and Jesse, apologized after asking armed police officers to leave the place on Friday.
Compton and Silcocks explained on Instagram on Saturday:
Another statement, though, appeared on Twitter:
San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Chief Scott responded on Twitter:
Word spread quickly about the incident, which led to negative backlash. People gave Hilda and Jesse one-star reviews on Yelp. Others lashed out on social media.
I looked on Google and it looks like they removed any recent bad reviews. The place still has a 1.4 rating out of five, but the newest written review is from three days ago and it’s a five-star rating.
I went on Yelp. The company alerts you that they are monitoring Hilda and Jesse’s Yelp page closely due to increased activity. Quite a few reviews come from people not in San Francisco.
Dale C. in Windsor, CA: “I would not support or recommend a San Francisco business that discriminates against the SFPD. Shame on you!!! May the eggs of a Thousand Cockroach’s hatch and infest your kitchen. I hope the Health Department Shuts you down….”
Joseph A. in San Francisco is a gay man: “Given that this business has decided to Discriminate against first responders, I reserve the right to Call For A Boycott Of Hilda and Jesse. Because if Hilda and Jesse can discriminate against an officer on Lunch, then what is to stop them from doing the same to Health Care Workers due to a fear of COVID. I am an Out Gay Man in SF, and I find the misrepresentation that the LGBTQ community needs protection from the SFPD to be offensive.”
Local resident John Perri: “So bummed this happened in my neighborhood. Never had the food at this new restaurant. But it could not possibly be good enough to cover the bad taste this leaves.”
Another resident said, “It’s her restaurant she can do what she wants. Who wants to be eating lunch next to someone with a weapon.”
I don’t mind eating next to someone with a weapon. But yes, the two ladies have every right to refuse service to anyone. If they want to refuse to serve armed police officers that’s fine.
But don’t be shocked when you get blowback. That’s probably why Compton and Silcocks apologized on Sunday.
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