Who does Houston's think think they are?

It's down to manners, etiquette and breeding. Over here in the UK it
used to be said "Only women or Yanks (refering to cowboys in cowboy
films) wear hats indoors". Unfortunately these days this slovenly
habit has spread to include those ghastly baseball caps and other
equally obnoxious headgear. Even more unfortunately the absurd
immigration rules of the United Kingdom have let more and more
uncivilised cretins into the country, which has increased this uncouth
and foul habit, along with many other immoral, bad mannered and
uncivilised modes of behaviour.

My grandparents would be ashamed of my husband or children wearing
hats at the table, they would also be disappointed if I were to ask
for something for free that was in no way deserved. Shame on you.

I know this thread is old, but I gotta say, I totally agree with you.
I believe in manners (very strongly, in fact) ... but the hat thing is
an antiquated and rediculous. Traditions have about zero meaning if
no one can remember WHY they are traditions. Hats are just an article
of clothing, same as shoes, coat, etc. I wear one to stay warm and
the other day some ... individual got all bent out of shape about it.
Getting upset about something like that is what is rude, not
innocently trying to stay warm, etc. It's about time this meaningless
tradition (one I didn't even know about til a week ago) went away.
Far away.

And anyone who disagrees with me: remember, getting upset at someone
or just putting them on the spot because they don't know about, or
have a different opinion on, some really outdated (and oftentimes
unknown) manner is itself rude. Please, thankyou, letting people
ahead of you in line, driving safely, etc ... these things are polite
and have meaning. Trying to stay warm ... or not embarass yourself
with hat hair ... not rude. Someone putting you on the spot because
they are wearing a hat: very rude. I agree with them 100% for
leaving.

This company was very rude and owes Karen and her husband an apology.
If they haven't gone out of business already by alienating their
customers.

- JS

It has always been considered rude and tacky for men, especially grown
men to wear hats indoors.

I am glad to see that some restaurants are taking a stand about this.

Only will return if you get something for free?
Yes, that sounds about right.
Right about good old American greed and entitlement.

Hats should be removed indoors, it's called manners. I wish more
restaurants would follow this policy.

Houston's is great.

Good riddance to your whiny ass and your idiot slob-bag husband.

More seats for me and other hot people.

You waited for 30 minutes and left after they asked your husband to
remove his hat? That sure is petty. Spilling food on you, providing
lousy service, having a rude server..those things I can understand why
you would leave a restaurant. But you actually think they should have
bowed down to you and your husband because 'he had hat hair'. And you
want an apology AND a free lunch.

I'm glad Houston's refused to roll over and allow themselves to be
taken advantage of. It only makes me want to eat there. It's sad they
had to ask you for basic table manners. Of course you don't get it and
that's the perfect example of The True Selfish American spirit.

It is basic manners not to wear a hat at a table.
I applaud Houston's for enforcing this policy and think you owe them
an apology. If wearing a hat is so important to your husband, then eat
brunch at home.
FYI: Remind your husband to remove his hat during the National Anthem
too.

Try that at the New York Athletic Club! So I guess you could ask the
same, "Who do they they think THEY are."

McDonald's will let him wear his hat.

Houstons sucks!

It's a hat. What kind of retard waits HALF AN HOUR, and throws a
spoiled fit and leaves when he is asked to take off his hat?

Is your husband an imbecile?? "Geez, I'm awfully hungry, but I'd
rather starve some more just so I can wear my hat..."

You should have told the waitress that she was discrimating against
your husband because of how he was dressed, but maybe they thought he
was being rude when he did not take his hat off, at school whenever
they play the anthem everyone has to take their hat's off, we are not
allowed to wear hats at scouts unless it is the scout hat which is
only for hiking and outdoor activities, also at scout camp we are
allowed to wear what we want except when we have our meals we are not
allowed hats and this goes the same for outdoor camping, so maybe they
did it for reasons because they did not want the other customers to
see that they allow you to wear hats because they were embarassed, but
since you he could have said the waitress was discrimating against him
because of his clothes.

It is a good thing to point out the bureaucratic nuisance in places
of public accomodation. Houstons response to you was an outright
dismissal of your unpleasant experience.


It is a good thing to point out the bureaucratic nuisance in places
of public accomodation. Houstons response to you was an outright
dismissal of your unpleasant experience. I will spread the word about
this restaurant.

Let me put this bluntly; Any apology you will get from any store,
ever, will not be sincere. It will be an apology to dupe you into
feeling like you are loved by the establishment. Their purpose will
not be because they feel bad about what happened to you as a person,
it will be because you have $20 to spend at sometime in the future,
nothing more.
So why do you want an apology? It is a business and sincere apologies
can only come from people that have sincere relationships with you.
Stop asking for apologies they are worthless unless you are easily
duped.

I see everyone has some very strong opinions regarding this matter. I
was angry that there was no sign posted and after we waited 30
minutes, and watching other couples seated wearing sweatsuitsthat's
right, sweatsuitswe were then told remove your hat. We should have
been made aware of this information as soon as we gave our name to the
hostess.

"First, Remove this ridiculous policy, certainly for those who come
for brunch and lunch.Houstons is far from a high end restaurant.
Second , if I get a sincere apology and a complimentary lunch, I might
consider returning. " -----> pretty impractical. If they have a
policy, abide by it and don't complain just because they were
enforcing it. Requesting a "complimentary meal" is absolutely absurd.
You didn't even sit down and eat. Why in the world would they pay for
your lunch?

Every fine dining establishment I've worked at had a dress code. We
didn't want to scare off potential customers so it was always
"business casual".
If wearing a hat means that much to you then you shouldn't be
offended. Because that's the stand you are willing to make for your
hat.
But I think this is a case of ego, and you think you can do whatever
you want wherever you want and that you have some special privilege to
do that.
Well have fun because you in fact are not a god but just another human
being. And you should treat your fellow human beings with as much
respect as you think you yourself deserve.

See... I'm even treating you with respect in this letter. I didn't go
and call you a self righteous pig or anything like that.

This is just as pathetic as the Wendy's chili scam. First of all
Houstons has millions of customers and does not care if it loses two
stupid demanding rednecks such as yourselves.

Are you some kind of all-American reject? Down here in LA we have a
Houstons and people certainly don't walk in in a baseball cap!As for
your husband's hat hair, if he went into the bathroom to comb his hair
out there would be no problem. I mean, come on, it is called a comb!
So if he thinks combing his hair makes him gay or something, then
"ya'll" should move out of New York and "pack it on up" to Texas!!

Ummm - wasn't your husband ever taught that men are supposed to remove
their hat when they go indoors? Are you a redneck or something? You
both need to learn proper manners.

Yeah, who do they think they are setting a dress code policy for their
restaurant!? They act like they own the place or something. Oh,
wait, they do.

Come on, it's simple ettiquette to remove a hat indoors, whether it be
a thrift-store ballcap or the finest silk tophat from Saville Row.
The only possible exception I can think of where you might have a case
is if it was a hat worn for religious reasons like a yarmulke or a
sikh's turban. But that's not the case here. Learn some manners and
remove your baseball hat indoors, or better yet wear it only to
sporting events where it's most appropriate anyway.

Karen you are a true American, I praise you in your thinking, and
standing up for what is truly right. The customer is always right is a
very American way of life, that is being lost in time, and this
threatens our free way of life. Stand up to businesses that think of
themselves as to good for your trade and tell everyone you see of the
distasteful service you received. As for the 99% of you that replied
with the thought that the business is always right and we the consumer
must obey business wishes. I feel sad that you surly know not of the
true American way of life that has kept us free for so long. You guys
will make good comrades, when we loose your freedoms and rights due to
your UN-American Ways.

It's always been considered proper etiquitte to remove a hat,
especially a man's hat. Maybe that has changed or just not been kept
up with, but I completely understand it as my father always made my
brothers take off their hats inside a building as respect to others.

He had hat hair...dont you guys see what a horrible thing this is? How
in the world could he eat with hat hair?? OMG! Get a life.

You arent serious are you?!

You are complaining because they asked your husband to remove his
hat?!?!

What is he? 10?

My (now soon to be ex) husband ALWAYS wears a hat but at least he has
the respect to take it off when he goes into a resturant or someone's
home. And I make sure my son does as well when he wears one.

Obviously, if he couldnt take his hat off, neither of you are the kind
of people they want at their resturant. And I am guessing they arent
sad to see you go.

It's their policy, it doesnt hurt anyone, its a matter of respect.
Like it or leave it.

If you have a problem with removing your hat I just hope you never
come to my house. At my house the hat is removed at the door or you
stay outside. END OF STORY! It's rude (to say the least) to refuse to
remove your hat at the table.

next thing you know if they let it sldie they will have scumbag ghetto
people with pants hanging down and on welfare in their nice
establishment.

Who do you think YOU are Karen?

You and your hubby sound like idiots!!!

Come on! I'm a balding 38 year old man and wear a hat on a daily
basis, but even I know that most restaurants have a no hat policy.
This is a policy that has been around forever and Houston's might not
be a "High End" restaurant as you state, but it sure isn't McDonalds.
Also, if you and your husband were dressed as nicely as you said why
would he have a hat on anyways? Too stop going to Houston's or any
restaurant because of that is just CHILDISH and believe me, everybody
you tell this too is laughing behind your back! You should be
embarrass to waist everyone's time and trivialize what this site is
for. You should stop what your doing this very second, get in your
car, drive back to Houston's and apologize to everyone there.

The worlds dumbest look is the backwards baseball hat look. It
screams "HEY IM TOO STUPID TO PUT MY HAT ON RIGHT!"

Whoever started it needs to be taken out and beaten with a stick for
foisting it on the american people.

There is only one group of people in the world that should wear their
baseball hat backwards.

That is a catcher in a baseball game and only when he is catching.

I happen to live down the street from Cubs catcher Michael Barrett.
When he is not catching and is wearing a hat it is on the right way,

It always looks stupid. It looks stupid on catchers but well it's
part of their uniform.

From what I can tell, Houston's is a pretty fancy place that likes it
patrons to be a little dressed up.

It is their choice to have that policy. They are definitely a
higher-class place. If they don't want to let you in because your
husband is wearing a baseball cap, then that's their choice. Find
someplace else to eat. Sometimes you have to dress up to eat at a
fancy restaurant.

And nice try at a gimme grab there. I'd toss your complaint right in
the garbage.

See subject...:)

I'm sorry, but even my 6 year old son knows it is impolite to wear a
baseball cap inside. Just because lots of people do wear them inside
nowadays, doesn't make it any less polite. If a person doesn't want
hat hair, he probably sbould wear a hat.

they even serve sushi!!

What a frickin whiner you are! Consider using an umbrella one of these
days. Don't you know it is bad manners to wear a hat at a dinner
table? I don't think Houstons is going miss a low class individual as
yourself. So stick to eating at the waffle house. Apparently you dont
know any better!

Either buy the restaurant or open your own restaurant next door.:)

CLick here:

http://www.hillstone.com/

Then click on "restaurants," then "Houston's," then click on the large
banner-like picture -- each time you click, you'll get a picture from
the restaurant. Once you see the outside, you'll see that it sure
seems like a "no baseball cap" kind of place.

Besides: "we were dressed VERY nicely"

Who wears a baseball cap with "very nice" clothes? No man of mine.

Houston's is perfectly within their right to institute whatever dress
code policies they choose - - the fact you don't like the "no hat"
portion is your problem - - not theirs. You have already written to
them and they have reaffirmed their policy, so I'll bet your chances
of a "sincere apology and a complimentary lunch" are nill and none.
Get over yourself and your husband's hat hair.

I guess at home tonight, when I'm sitting down for supper and my
fiancee tells me to take my hat off at the table, I should just storm
out of the house and then write a nasty complaint letter to her
tomorrow, asking her who she "think think"s she is, and that if she
gives me a sincere apology and a complimentary lunch, I might consider
returning.

But I probably won't do that, because that would make me a jackass.

My mom always says, "manners are free."

My dad always says, "no free lunch."

Enough said.

Wow, I must say I'm quite surprised to see pretty much everyone
agreeing with Houston's no hat policy. I have never heard of such a
policy before, and I think it's ridiculous and will stay away from
Houston's. Come on, many people wear hats. A policy requiring shirt
and shoes makes sense for the sake of public decency, but there is
nothing indecent about a hat.

Firstly, why was your husband wearing a baseball cap if he was dressed
"very nicely"? What a sloppy touch to add.

Secondly, etiquette requires men (not women, just men) to remove all
hats (including caps) indoors. It's something that's disappearing,
although I'm pleased that this restaurant is standing its ground. My
boyfriend removes his cap automatically, as that is how he was
raised.

You are not sounding good with your rant. Get over it.

Houston's is well within its rights to require that people take off
their baseball hats. It is poor manners for a gentleman to dine with a
hat on. Good manners never go out of style, they may be inconvenience,
but too bad!

Straight from Emily Post:
"Basically, hats are removed when going indoors as a measure of
respect. Therefore, caps and hats should be removed when entering a
home (which includes while eating at the table), when entering a place
of religion, or when going to a restaurant. When entering a store or
other "public area" like a train station, the hat or cap may remain
on. This applies to baseball caps worn by men or women. Hats and caps
are always removed for the Pledge of Allegiance or the National
Anthem.

Women's hats that are part of their ensembles and therefore fashion
accessories may be worn indoors, including at a restaurant table, etc.
If they are large-brimmed, they should be removed in a theater or
other place where they block the vision of the person behind. Aside
from garden parties and formal teas where hats are often left on,
women generally remove their hats when dinning in someone's home.

The guidelines for wearing of hats by men and women are still an
important part of our manners today. Hat traditions and manners may
have originated in medieval times when knights lifted their face guard
to show who they were, or in the days of the cowboys when a hat was
lifted and removed to show there was no weapon hidden underneath. It
became a sign of respect to others that has always remained."

This may be the most entitlement sounding letter I've ever read.

Its their place, its their rules. If the resturant in Chelsea doesnt
mind having a couple of rude slobs partaking in brunch then go there.
Houston's will not miss you.

Oh, for the love of...

I almost forgot.

Stop being a gimme pig. You didn't like the rules, you left.
Houston's owes you zilch.

Um... who do they think they are? (for the record, it should be "who
does Houston's think IT is" but, I digress...)

The proprietors, perhaps? The people who make the rules, maybe? You
don't want to follow the rules, don't go there. It's tacky to wear a
hat in a restaurant and if you and your husband don't recognize the
fact, stay at home.

It's like they think they own the joint.

If they said no hats, then "who does karen S. and her husband think
they are?" to demand an exception to the rule and a free lunch?

I went to dinner with a former girlfriend to her grandparents' house a
long time ago. Her grandfather insisted I take off my baseball cap to
eat. According to your logic I should've decided to eat elsewhere.
Now that I think about it, I should have. She was a cheatin' psycho
wench from hell. If I would've left right then I would have spared
myself...

Wait where was I? Oh yeah, their place their rules, abide by them or
eat in Chelsea.

Maybe it is the military in me but it is very disrespectful to wear a
hat indoors. If you want to be disrespectful, do it in your own
house. To me, you are being disrespectful to the military. If men
who have to risk there lives everyday have to remove there hats
indoors, then you should have to remove yours.

It is as simple as carrying a comb around with you. Quit trying to
scam a free meal.

Forgive my ignorance of NYC but Park Avenue sounds ritzy enough of an
address. High Rent district maybe? The definition of a sincere apology
is one that comes from the heart of the apologizer, without
expectations of special treatement or free grub from the apologee. An
apology, any apology is enough. If no shoes no shirt no service is the
policy, I make sure I have shoes and a shirt.
It's customary for a gentleman, even in a greasy spoon joint to
remove his hat before being seated. Why? People are eating food and
men (I am one) have a tendency to "shed" some strands as they remove
their hat. This takes care of someone getting some "hat hair" landing
on their plate and spoiling the experience of dining. Hat Hair? Easy
one...either ditch into the rest room, take the cap off, moisten a
comb and comb your hair. NBD (acronym for no big deal) Rest Room for
Patrons Only?... a moist towelette or baby wipes in the car or purse
works just as well...lacking that, there's nothing wrong with a bit of
saliva. After waiting a half hour it could have been accomplished and
you'd have been seated.
So this horrible experience, this dark cloud, this hat hair anxiety
led you to explore NYC and find new places that welcome hat hair with
open arms! Was it a total washout? Need Prozac or Analysis? Demand
payment from Houstons along with the free grub and sincere apology.

The "If you give me....then i might...or else I'll....." approach
hardly ever works. Houstons sounds like a fine establishment and my
next visit to nyc will include a business lucheon there.

AGAIN...someone that just wants a freebie...give me a break

1. Anyone who's so concerned about hat hair should carry a comb.
2. You say you're good customers which I take to mean you've been
there before. If so, I would assume you know the policy.
3. A gentleman takes off his hat in a restaraunt.
4. You're upset enough to write your letter then you turn around and
say if you get a sincere apology (for them following their own policy,
mind you) and a complimentary lunch you might consider returning.
5. You insult the restrauant yet you'll consider going back.
I get it! Can you spell F-R-E-E-B-I-E?

I have to be the one to tell my husband and son (and sometimes even my
daughter) to take off their hats in a restaurant. They don't even
bother to argue with me, they just do it. I try to keep at least some
manners in tact.

Why should the restaurant apologize for their policy. It doesn't just
apply to you but to everyone, and it doesn't say rainy days and hat
hair excluded. What would be the point in having policies at all if
you had to apologize to everyone who disagreed and then give them a
free meal to boot?

It sounds like you were the only ones complaining about it, so I doubt
they will care if you return or not.

I think your letter was good until you asked for freebies. People
don't like that here.

Karen S.,
While it is Houston's Policy it is also ettiquete that's been around
for years.
Of late this practice has been encroached upon with the use of excuses
just like you offer.
How the other couple was dressed is not relevent to your compaint and
you bringing up further underscores that you know you have a very weak
case.
Tell your husband to not wear hats indoors, open the car door for you,
stand up when you enter the room and take these little set backs as
character builders
that my kids as teens knew and still practice.
Oh yeah...NO comp lunch...
Bill R.

I'm in Texas and even down here the men remove their hats when they
are in restuarants, hat hair or no hat hair. Maybe the rules are
different in NYC? I was taught that removing ones hat when entereing a
restuarant or home was akin to wiping your feet and saying please and
thank you.

Somehow, I doubt if they miss you with that attitude. I am trying to
picture someone very well dressed - wearing a baseball cap. Got out
the clean T shirt too, huh???

Anywhoo, as stated above, it is impolite to wear a hat at an eating
establishment in general. Are you an impolite person?

What kind of restaurant is Houston's? If it's one with a dress policy
(blazer, nice suit, etc.), that I can see them asking him to remove
his hat. If it's an establishment like Chili's, I think it's
ridiculous. I think you should get an apology, but not a free lunch
since you didn't eat there, anyways.

Actually.. it IS considered impolite wearing a hat.. esp a baseball
hat.. at the "dinner table"...so if this was a prestige place.. I can
see why she said that.. I dont believe they will give you a
complimentary lunch for this. an apology.. maybe.. but free lunch??
its not like they overcharged you alot or anything.

Plenty of restaurants have dress codes. It may seem silly, but the
establishment is certainly within its' rights to refuse to seat you if
you refuse to follow it. They owe you nothing. Why do you want a
complimentary lunch at Houston's anyway, since you've found a "new,
hip brunch spot in Chelsea"? I bet the clientele there is more to your
liking anyway - probably dressed more in keeping with your high
standards (save for the hat hair), unlike those horrid people seated
before you who dared not dress as nicely as you.

May I suggest your husband invest in a comb for those unsightly "hat
hair" days? It does the job quite nicely.