Why restaurant workers are demanding better wages and working conditions

In Washington, D.C., a group of employees at Del Mar, a fine-dining destination on the Wharf, emailed an anonymous letter to chef and owner Fabio Trabocchi, outlining their grievances with the management of the Spanish restaurant. The letter reportedly describes incidents of racial bias and insensitivity, a tip-pool system that lowered servers’ take-home pay during the pandemic, an incident of sexual harassment and the “toxic impact” of Stefania Sorrenti, director of restaurants for Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants. After declining to meet with management on May 21 — Trabocchi was in Florida for work and the South Beach Wine and Food Festival — at least seven employees resigned from Del Mar, forcing the restaurant to cancel individual (but not large group) reservations that weekend.