‘They used my daughter’s toys to clean the table’: Philadelphia mom says Silk City worker threw away her belongings while she was in the bathroom
Their bill was still open. Their belongings were already in the trash, she says.
A Philadelphia mother says that a Silk City diner employee threw away her wallet, keys, jacket, and her 5-year-old daughter’s stuffed animals while they used the bathroom. She says nearby customers also told her they watched the worker use the toys to wipe down the table.
Kumbah Sarnor recounted the experience in an Instagram video, saying they returned after three or four minutes to find their table empty. They were still waiting for their check when an employee retrieved their possessions from a garbage can containing food scraps and debris, she said.
Silk City apologized, called the incident unacceptable, and confirmed that the employee involved no longer worked there. Sarnor also criticized management’s response, saying she struggled to get help while standing with her daughter and their soiled belongings.
Sarnor says the bartender blamed her for leaving belongings behind
Sarnor said she had visited Silk City for years, including before her daughter was born. They had already taken one bathroom trip during the meal, leaving their possessions at the table and returning without a problem.
When she discovered the items missing after their second trip, she approached a bartender who had not been serving them. She initially laughed when he suggested the toys might be in the trash, unable to believe he had discarded them while their bill remained open.
“Not her stuffed animals, not my jacket, not my wallet, not my car keys,” she recalled. “Nothing is on the table.”
In the video, Sarnor showed the bagged belongings and said the stuffed animals were covered in teriyaki sauce from her shrimp fried rice. She had not witnessed anyone wiping the table with them and said she wished she had collected the nearby customers’ contact information.
Sarnor alleged that the bartender later told her, “You should be more conscious about what you leave at the table.” She said he followed that with, “75 percent of my job is throwing stuff out.”
Sarnor also questioned how management handled her complaint
When Sarnor asked for a manager, she said, the bartender pointed out a man he identified as the owner. She alleged that the man heard what had happened, walked into the kitchen, and never returned to speak with her.
After she waited roughly 10 minutes and asked again, a manager came out. According to Sarnor, he responded, “Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll take care of him,” but offered little further assistance. She said she had to request bags to carry their soiled belongings home.
In a statement reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Silk City said the incident did not reflect its values or standards. “We want to make things right,” the restaurant said. “We understand why emotions are high.” The restaurant and owner Mark Bee declined further comment to the newspaper, referring it to the statement.
Sarnor told the Inquirer she ultimately threw away the stuffed animals and jacket. Even after cleaning, she said, her wallet retained the smell of teriyaki sauce. Her daughter asked why her toy was dirty and later cried in the car.
For Sarnor, the employee’s departure did not address how others responded when she sought help. “It wasn’t just [the server]. Management didn’t handle things correctly,” she told the newspaper.
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