Close Ad

Girl With Autism Refuses to Eat Her “Broken” Burger - Chili’s Waitress Has a Surprising Response
Kind Chili’s Waitress Rushes to Fix Autistic Girl’s “Broken” Cheesburger
Uplifting News

Girl With Autism Refuses to Eat Her “Broken” Burger - Chili’s Waitress Has a Surprising Response

When Arianna Hill wouldn't eat her cheeseburger because it was cut in half, the Chili's server has an inspiring response.

A local Chili’s restaurant in Midvale, Utah served up kindness when they replaced an autistic girl’s “broken” cheeseburger with a “fixed” one.

How One Restaurant Went Above and Beyond for a Customer

burger with fries
Photo by Engin Akyurt

Anna MacLean, 25, took her sister, Arianna Hill, out for lunch. Everything was going well, and she wasn’t too overstimulated. She was so excited that before the pair were even able to put their drink orders in, the seven-year-old told the waitress, “I’ll have my cheeseburger.”


When Arianna’s burger arrived at the table, MacLean noticed that Hill wasn’t eating because the cheeseburger was cut in half, something the restaurant does automatically for children.

RELATED: Boy With Autism Spectrum Disorder Breaks Down at School - What a Classmate Did Next Is Unexpected

"I asked why she wasn't eating and she said, 'I don't want it. It's broken. I need one that's fixed.'"

Not expecting people to understand these special requests, MacLean asked the waitress to bring a new burger and charge them for it. But the server, Lauren Wells, said, “No way.”

Instead, she leaned down to personally apologize for the broken burger and assured Arianna she would bring her a brand new fixed one.

"She was just so sweet and played along with Arianna," MacLean told ABC News.

The manager and the even line cooks got involved.

"When she brought it back out, Arianna said, 'Oh, thank you! You brought me a fixed cheeseburger.' She sat there and looked at it and said, 'Oh I missed you,' and kissed it over and over again." MacLean said.

RELATED: Grocery Store Worker Notices Teen With Autism Staring At Him - What He Does Next Goes Viral

MacLean was so touched by the staff's compassion and understanding that she snapped a photo of Arianna giving the cheeseburger a kiss and posted it to Facebook with a brief description of how well the restaurant handled the situation.

The "broken cheeseburger" photo went viral.

How a Restaurant’s Compassion Made a Little Girl Happy

little girl in glasses sitting on a table
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Harrison Dixson, Chili's general manager, said he has gotten calls from people all across the country, including the president of Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization, thanking him for the way his manager, Brad Cattermole, and server, Lauren Wells, interacted with Arianna.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of those two. I've been with this company for 13 years and I've never been as proud as I am today," Dixson said to ABC News.

RELATED: Girl With Autism Is Downcast After Receiving Straight Ds - What Her Dad Does Next Goes Viral

A simple restaurant outing turned into something bigger than MacLean could ever have imagined. "The comments on the post just bring awareness to people," she said. "This is Arianna's story. And this is Lauren's story, and the manager. They are a true inspiration."

A child with autism has to have certain things in a particular order at all times and one change in their routine can change the course of the day instantly. Unfortunately, not everyone is understanding of, and patient with, these special needs. But this restaurant happily replaced the "broken" burger and the post about their compassion is creating awareness. 

KEEP READING:

Bullies Who Always Excluded Kid With Autism Are Stunned When He Confronts Them In Front Of Everyone

Hot Stories

Why Jennifer Hudson Forgave Her Mother's Killer -- Life Stories By Goalcast

At the peak of her career, Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy. Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home, and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped. What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family. Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward.

Celebrities
People smiling in unison united
Racism Quotes

Racism is considered the marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges another race. The term is applied in many areas of a society that perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race or strengthen racial inequalities in education, health care, income, and civil rights.

Ever since the 20th century, the concept of biological race is considered a cultural invention that has no scientific basis. The progress over the past half-century has been impressive, but the nation still has a long way to go to reach true racial equality.

Keep ReadingShow less
Everyday Heroes
Lots of Dollar Bills

Save what you have to double what you make.

Everyone talks about money -- some because they don’t have enough, some wish to make more, and some are simply obsessed with it. It has always been this way, but nowadays, making money seems to be the main goal on everyone’s 'to do' list.

We’ve never had so many options when it comes to products, technology and services, and salesmen constantly try to convince us that we need them all to live a happier and easier life. But do we?

Keep ReadingShow less
Authors