The chef at popular New York restaurant Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare told his staff to serve Asians and residents of the Upper West Side poor quality meat because they are “shit people”, according to a lawsuit filed against the eatery.



Five former employees of the Michelin starred restaurant – three servers, a sous chef and a prep cook – have filed a class action lawsuit in New York district court on Monday, in which they allege head chef Cesar Ramirez often made racist remarks and instructions, and that the restaurant withheld pay and tips.

Former server Emi Howard, an Asian American, says in the suit that Ramirez “routinely referred to Asian customers as ‘shit people’”, when speaking to her and employees.

The suit also claims: “Ramirez many times instructed Ms Howard not to place ‘shit people’, ie Asian customers, at the parts of the kitchen counter that were closest in proximity to his own place.”



“When a large piece of meat was cut into many pieces for the guests, Defendant Ramirez instructed Ms Howard to give the worst pieces of meat to the ‘shit people’, ie Asian people.”

The suit (pdf) also claims that Ramirez lumped “Upper West Siders” into the category of undesirables unworthy of prime cuts.

When Howard once sat customers of Asian descent near Ramirez, the suit says, he “subjected [her] to a wild verbal tirade” and henceforth took charge of seating at the table to “ensure no Asians be sat next to his place”.

Howard says she tried to complain about his “disgusting treatment of Asian people” and was eventually fired for it. She and her co-plaintiffs demand unspecified damages and accuse the restaurant of refusing to pay for overtime hours, violating minimum wage law and withholding tips owed them.

In addition to demanding damages for “emotional distress” and discriminatory practices, the plaintiffs portray Ramirez as a spiteful tyrant who would terminate employment on whims and denied them a share of even the mandatory service fee charged to all patrons.

The plaintiffs are represented by Maimon Kirschenbaum, a wage lawyer who has made a name in class action suits against New York’s costliest and best reviewed eateries, including Le Cirque, Nobu and Balthazar. Most of the cases settled out of court. Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fair’s meals of predominately French-Asian cuisine cost $255 per person, plus tax and a 20% service fee (about $51). The restaurant has the three-star Michelin rating coveted by chefs as a symbol of having reached the top of their craft.

Kirschenbaum told the Guardian he considers the case “particularly egregious” and said it was “unfortunate when a certain degree of success gets to a person’s head and he believes he is above the law”. He would only describe the damages sought as “lots of money”.

Brooklyn Fare owner Moneer Issa told the Guardian “the allegations are false” and “by no means representative of the truth”. In a statement, Ramirez categorically denies the charges, which he says have left him “deeply saddened”.

Ramirez also writes he wants “to ensure all who are reading this that I am not a racist and I have never been.”

“Our guests are the reason I put on an apron each day to cook, whether they are local New Yorkers or traveling from near or far,” Ramirez writes. “We treat the restaurant as our home and everyone that comes here is immensely valued. I am indebted to our guests. I would like to request that those reading this understand that these are allegations and I deny them.”

Ramirez concludes with a personal address to the reader: “it will be my continued dream to cook for you one day.”



Issa said the restaurant has yet to receive court papers about the suit.

Ramirez has previously been accused of abrasive behavior, according to a food blogger, who said Ramirez swore at him to stop taking notes about the food. The restaurant prohibits customers from taking notes or photos on the food.