Rashmi Bhat, who co-owns 7 Monk’s Cafe in New Braunfels, Texas, recently posted a video on Instagram in which she opened with a striking statement: “I don’t hire Indians at my Indian restaurant.”
The restaurant, which she runs with her mother, serves a blend of Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. Founded in 2019 just before the Covid-19 pandemic, 7 Monk’s Cafe managed to survive the industry downturn and has since built a steady customer base among local diners.
‘It surprises people’
In her video, Bhat acknowledged that her hiring approach often shocks people.
“I don’t hire Indians at my Indian restaurant,” she said, adding that the reaction is usually rooted in assumptions customers make about ethnic eateries.
She explained that many diners expect staff at an Indian restaurant to also be Indian, especially when it comes to serving or preparing traditional cuisine.
“When most people walk into an Indian restaurant, they assume everyone working there has to be an Indian,” Bhat said. “But that’s never how we hired.”
Hiring based on attitude, not ethnicity
Bhat clarified that her hiring philosophy has always focused on personality, work ethic and willingness to learn, rather than cultural or ethnic background.
According to her, the goal was to build opportunities for the local community while growing the business.
“When my mom and I opened 7 Monk’s Cafe, we didn’t set out to build an Indian team. We set out to build a great team, regardless of their skin colour,” she said.
She added that her staff includes high school students, college students, single mothers and retirees looking for work opportunities.
Staff exposure to Indian cuisine
Bhat also noted that several employees had never tried Indian food before joining the restaurant. Over time, she said, they became familiar with the cuisine and even developed personal favourites that they now recommend to customers.
Online backlash and debate
Her comments quickly went viral, attracting over 100,000 views within hours and sparking a broader discussion on Instagram about authenticity and cultural expectations in ethnic restaurants.
While some users praised her inclusive hiring approach, others questioned whether it affects the authenticity of the food and dining experience.
One user commented, “Your hiring policies are impressive but we come to eat authentic food - no Indian cook I’m not eating there.”
Another wrote, “I would prefer my Indian food made by an Indian individual lol.”
A third viewer shared concerns based on personal experience, stating that staff unfamiliar with Indian cuisine can sometimes struggle with menu items and customer expectations.
The debate continues online, highlighting the tension between inclusive hiring practices and consumer expectations of cultural authenticity in ethnic dining establishments.
