Houston bistro takes heat for domestic violence joke

Roots Bistro, a vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Houston, Texas, raised the ire of the Internet after a tasteless joke on its marquee made it onto social media.

The sign read "Beer should be like violence: domestic." The Houston Press reports that a manager identified only as Kenneth said the message was changed almost immediately due to backlash. "That sign is not up now. It was up literally for 10 minutes and it was pulled down."

Distasteful sign outside Houston restaurant.Roots Bistro 507 Westheimer RdHouston, TX 77006713.524.1000 twitter.com/swilson191/sta…

— Scott Wilson (@swilson191) April 13, 2013

The manager said an employee put the sign up Saturday after getting the idea on the Internet. "We'll go on the Internet and look at other businesses and what they post on their signs," Kenneth said. "Another business had posted it," Kenneth continued, and the employee who who chose the message apparently took that to mean it was somehow acceptable.

"Everyone makes mistakes," said Kenneth. "We completely deserved the backlash, and I can't be mad at anyone but myself."

But not everyone is happy with the restaurant's apology, considering the tone of its next marquee, which read "Seriously, focus your energy on equal rights." Roots Bistro's latest effort simply says "Sorry a million times over Houston."

Apologies: ur doin it wrong, @roots_houston edition. wp.me/pCB0q-1im #hounews

— Andrea Greer (@nonsequiteuse) April 14, 2013