Texas Indian Restaurant Owner's Hiring Policy Sparks Debate

An Indian-origin restaurant owner in Texas has sparked discussion online after revealing that her Indian restaurant has almost no Indian staff and explaining why she does not hire employees based on nationality or ethnicity. Rashmi Bhat, who runs 7 Monk’s Cafe Texas, said in a viral Instagram video that her hiring approach often surprises people, especially because the restaurant serves Indian cuisine. “I don’t hire Indians at my Indian restaurant,” she said in the video, adding that the statement usually surprises many people. She explained that customers often assume that the staff at an Indian restaurant must naturally be Indian. However, she said that was never her intention when she started the business with her mother in 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic. “When most people walk into an Indian restaurant, they assume everyone working there has to be Indian. But that’s never how we hired,” she said. According to Bhat, the aim from the beginning was to build a team based on reliability, sincerity and willingness to learn, rather than cultural background. She said the focus was on creating a strong team from the local community. The restaurant hired people from different walks of life, including high school students, college students, single mothers and retirees looking for a second chance. “We set out to build a great team, regardless of their skin colour. So we hired high school students, college students, single moms and retirees looking for a second chance,” she said. Bhat said many of her employees initially knew very little about Indian cuisine. Some had never even tasted Indian food before joining the restaurant. However, over time, they learned about the dishes and now confidently recommend food to customers. “Our team doesn’t come from the same culture, but they know what it’s like to be introduced to an entirely new food. And every day, they help introduce thousands of people to ours,” she said. The restaurant serves Indian and Mediterranean cuisine and has built a steady local following since its launch. Bhat said the business survived the difficult phase of opening just before the pandemic and gradually established itself in the area.

 

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