An escalating online controversy involving two North County restaurants has ignited a heated debate across San Diego social media over autism accommodations, disruptive public behavior, disability rights, restaurant etiquette, and the increasingly volatile nature of internet outrage.
The controversy began after a local father shared a Facebook post describing what he believed was discriminatory treatment toward his 19-year-old autistic son during a Mother’s Day visit to Q’ero Restaurant on South Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas. According to the original post, the family felt they were being singled out because their son is autistic after restaurant staff allegedly questioned whether he might become loud during service.
The post quickly spread across Facebook before being reposted to Reddit’s r/sandiego community, where the discussion rapidly spiraled into dozens of comments, screenshots, Yelp reviews, and accusations targeting not only Q’ero, but also Scott Smith, the reported owner of nearby Encinitas eatery The 101 Diner…