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Houston Waiter Stands Up For Little Boy With Down Syndrome

A waiter for a Houston restaurant refused to serve a group of customers after he heard them making rude comments about a 5-year-old boy with Down syndrome sitting at another table. The best part: The restaurant is standing by his decision!

Michael Garcia is a waiter at Laurenzo's Restaurant in Houston, Texas.

Last week Garcia was waiting tables when he heard a group of patrons complain about having to sit next to Milo, a 5-year-old with Down syndrome.

Garcia told NBC affiliate KPRC-TV that he couldn't ignore the comment:

"I heard the man say, 'Special needs children need to be special somewhere else'… My personal feelings took over, and I told him, 'I'm not going to be able to serve you, Sir… How could you say that?… How could you say that about a beautiful 5-year-old angel?'"

Milo's mother didn't even know the incident happened until another waiter at the restaurant told her about it later in the meal.

Later that night Kim shared a statement with 2-95.com:

"Tonight was a first. Dinner at Laurenzo's and a family of 4 asked to be moved from the booth next to us. I didn't think that much about it but shortly after they left the restaurant entirely, glancing at our table as they left (thought I was being paranoid). As it turns out they told the waiter, 'special needs kids should be kept in special places.' The waiter promptly told them he was offended by their comment and refused to serve them. Yay for people like Michael, Candace and Eric at Laurenzo's (also waiters who everyone should go tip heavily) who not only love (my son) Milo for who he is -- a customer and little boy with Down syndrome, but stand up for him no matter what."

Garcia's story has since blown up on Facebook and users are pouring in to commend Laurenzo's Restaurant for backing Garcia's decision.

And the best part of all, the restaurant and the community are backing Garcia's decision!