Waiter, There’s An Inappropriate Comment In My Soup

Yesterday, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged that Tavern on the Green, perhaps the city’s most in-demand unoriginal restaurant, has violated federal law for at least eight years by [sexually and racially harassing] its employees. This is one in a long string of iffy eateries whose dirty dishes have been exposed this year, including [Restaurant Daniel](http://nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=7896156&day=31&startmonth=7&startyear=2007) and the [Canal Seafood Restaurant](http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=70891995&day=1&startmonth=3&startyear=2007) in Chinatown. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of hostess Martha Nyakim Gatkuoth -- who has spent the past four years in the Tavern’s employ -- and other unidentified staff members, charges that the restaurant’s managers and other employees [targeted black and Hispanic women](http://www.1010wins.com/Tavern-on-the-Green-Accused-of-Harassment/994442), including instances of groping and racist comments. The restaurant, of course, says the accusations are completely unfounded, and plans to continue to deny their veracity in court, if necessary.

Image courtesy of [pmow on Flickr]