[Blarg]

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Apologize for the hostess making a mistake?

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It is probably the hostess's mistake, but it is ultimately the owner's restaurant. She has the responsibility of making sure competent employees are hired. She gets credit (and money) when they succeed and it is completely reasonable and appropriate for her to apologize to customers on behalf of the restaurant when they screw up, even if it isn't her fault.

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I see no reason politeness wouldn't be in order, and I doubt the owner/manager was initially rude or even subsequently rude.

I also see no reason this should ever have escalated to the owner/manager. On the one hand, the hostess should have handled it. On the other, the father should have left his arguments with his hostess. The father strikes me as a bit of a bully here.