What do you think about the Philly restaurant who won't serve you unless you order in English?

Answer 1

It's not that he won't serve you, he just has a sign that says Please Order in English. My grandparents all had to learn English when they migrated here, and I can kind of see his point, but in our racially charged society it's probably a bad idea to have a sign like that.

Answer 2

It's a privately owned business, they have the right to make their own rules of who they will serve. I have friends whose grandparents came from Norway. The patriarch said now that we are in America, we are Americans and we WILL speak English. English always has been the "de Facto" language of the US.

For years we have been told about the "ugly American" that acts like a jerk and thinks if they talk louder that country should kowtow to us. Which is the really strange thing with what we are told about the criminals that we should learn another language in our country, so that the criminal can feel accepted. Now if they would learn English and have come here with the proper documents like every other immigrant did in the 19th and 20th century this would be a non-issue. But these criminals don't want citizenship apparently, because the break several laws including identity theft and fraud, trespassing, conspiracy, and drug smuggling.

So if a son of an immigrant decides that if these criminals need a push to get legal and learn English then he has every right to do so. Also, if people don't like it they don't have to go to his restraunt it's a free country we have the choice to do what we want without breaking the law. Heck, I don't want to learn Chinese or Russian to help someone that I encounter at work. Again we are told we are horrible people because we go over seas and don't speak the language and don't attempt to. Then we have a group of criminals that tell us that they are staying and there is nothing we can do about. that by far is worse than what us Americans do

Answer 3

I agree with Zen 100%.
I like the owner of this restaurant. He appeared for a short interview in Good Morning America on Friday. He's nice, funny & straightforward.
It's his restaurant & he runs it however he wants. The food's exceptionally good & the menu's but only in English. What's the issue here ?
He claims to have served tourists from all over the world i.e. Japan, Israel, Norway, Germany, etc...they all try to order his famous Philly cheesesteak sanwiches in English, though they don't even reside here. The Hispanics call the US their home, wouldn't it make sense that they should assmilate into the mainstream of America, with at least trying to order a sandwich in English.

Answer 4

Turn it around now. If you go on vacation and visit Europe and spend a few weeks touring 5 countries (Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, France), will you prepare to speak in those languages when ordering food? Getting lodging? Are you prepared to go through a Q&A about being just a tourist, but don't live there?

I think it's the usual American over-reaction without giving much thought to the big picture.

Answer 5

No, it's a matter of personal choice on the part of the business owner. I equally support that sub shop owner's decision as much as the others that welcome foreign language customers.

Keep in mind that it's not just illegals that can't speak English. We get many foreign visitors every year whose English language skills are extremely limited. Also, many LEGAL immigrants have very limited to non-existant English skills. Sure, they'll learn the language eventually, but why exclude them as customers?

Doing this "because of the illegals" is short-sighted but he has the right to do so. There are plenty of legal customers that he'll not get, but again that's his choice.

by the way i wont eat in that Gino FAT AND GREASy FOOD
he is a racist
!!!

Answer 6

If you don't order in English - you get a box or something? What other way is there to order?

Disclaimer:

Reading this answer may cause side effects such as cracked teeth, severe cramping, abnormal hair growth, sinus infection, forking of the tongue, and broken fingernails.

Answer 7

Do you expect them to have someone available for any speaker of any language that might walk in? How could that be practical?

I would expect them to serve anyone who could find a way to convey what they wanted (gestures, pointing, etc), but not to have a full-service translation option.

Are they supposed to have someone on hand who speaks Urdu, Hindi, Gaelic, Swahili, Mandarin, French, Polish, Navaho, and German, etc?

Answer 8

I agree with this decision. Every Country (other than America), has a national language. Than, when America wants to have English as our official language.........Other speaking persons are offended. If you come to America, you should strive to learn the language that America speaks.

If I go to Germany, it is german that I am expected to learn .Mexico, you will speak spanish. AND so on.......

Just my 2 cents.

I think its great that this resturant chooses to take a stand!

Answer 9

I back them 100% whomever they are. Try going to French Canada and ordering in English. They won't even recognize your existence.

Answer 10

I like the food.

By the way, what language did you plan on ordering in?