Emerald Pellot graduated summa cum laude from New York University with a degree in Writing & Popular Culture. She worked as Senior Editor of College Candy for 2 years, covering feminism, popular culture, and college life before joining LittleThings in 2015. Based in New York City, Emerald covers a wide range of topics from human interest pieces to celebrity news.

It just made no sense to the family. Tracy Clarenson took her son, Hayden, to his favorite place to eat for his seventh birthday.


It was a local buffet. All of a sudden, an employee kicked the entire family out because Hayden was eating too many crab legs.

“We were actually finishing up with our meal, and toward the end of the meal, my son came back and told me that he was told he couldn’t have any more crab legs because he ate too many,” said Tracy. “I was shocked that they said he ate too many crab legs.”

The mother explained to the worker that they were all eating the crab legs, but Hayden just wanted to get them and bring them over.


“We explained to her there were seven people at the table. Three of us were eating crab legs, and my 11-year-old was going up and getting them for us,” Tracy told ABC Action News. “She told us, ‘That’s all you eat, you don’t get any more — get out if you don’t like it.'”

Tracy didn’t understand. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet. Her other son, 11-year-old William, was accosted by an employee as well. When Tracy asked to see the manager, the employee refused.

Hayden is young and has mild autism, so the situation was incredibly upsetting.

“He was upset again this morning and said, ‘Mommy, can we go back,’ and I said, ‘I don’t think so, honey.’ He kept asking what was too many, and why did William eat too many. He didn’t understand,” she said.

Tracy and her family do not plan on visiting the buffet again. Still unable to contact the manager, she believes their service is misleading.

“Obviously, ‘all-you-can-eat buffet’ was not correct. I’m upset that my 7-year-old son’s birthday is ruined, and that she confronted my 11-year-old and told him that he couldn’t have more of something they advertise that they have,” she said.

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