Rated

Racial Profiling from BouncersI rarely write reviews but felt compelled to share my experience. I am an African American professional living and working in Bombay for the summer. I came to Delhi for the weekend and my friends raved about Social. I showed up Monday night at about 9:30 PM with two male friends (one Indian and one British). The bouncer at the door refused us entry. When I asked the bouncer why we could not get in he turned to my Indian friend and asked him in Hindi whether or not he spoke Hindi. I speak fluent Hindi so I interjected and said that I both speak and understand as well. The bouncer still refused to make eye contact with me or speak to me. I politely asked if it was a “no stags policy”, still no reply from the bouncer. My Indian friend asked and the bouncer said yes, no stags (while still refusing to acknowledge my presence or make eye contact with me). I asked how long the wait would be and when they would start letting “stags” in. Still I received the silent treatment. All the while the Bouncer was letting in other groups of men (with no visible female guests present). The Bouncer continued to ignore me as I stood in front of him and asked why some were being let in and not us. He continued to pretend as if I was neither speaking nor there. We eventually became fed up and left. The following day I came in with my friend and spoke to a morning manager. His response, while he sympathized with my embarrassment and frustration at the situation, was lackluster. He pointed out that the bouncers are contracted and do not represent Social. He took my number and name and assured me the manager/owner would call. I have yet to receive a call. While I can understand that bouncers might be contracted, they are the initial face of Social and represent the restaurant and its owners/staff. And as I told the bouncer before leaving, I am a human being and deserve to be treated as such. Even if Social has a no stags policy (which is actually not the wisest model for a business) I am still a potential customer. When I ask a question I at least deserve to be spoken to, not completely ignored. It was a humiliating and embarrassing ordeal to literally be treated as subhuman. And I deeply hope that such incidents of racial profiling, which is exactly what this was, do not happen again or to others.