Business & Tech

WATCH: LI Diner Waitress Goes Viral On TikTok, Kicks Out Customer

The video shows a waitress asking a man she said was "rude" to leave. It has 7 million views.

The Massapequa Diner was the setting of a TikTok video that has gained 7 million views, showing a waitress kicking out a customer.
The Massapequa Diner was the setting of a TikTok video that has gained 7 million views, showing a waitress kicking out a customer. (Google Maps)

MASSAPEQUA, NY — The customer isn't always right, at least in one recent TikTok video that has garnered 7.1 million views. A waitress at The Massapequa Diner, on Sunrise Highway in Massapequa, was filmed by a customer telling off another customer.

The waitress's name is Sondra Albert, according to the Long Islander who captured the interaction on video, but the man's identity is unknown.

The customer filming, Louis Cozzolino of Seaford, happened to have a thriving TikTok account where he posted the clip on Monday. He tells Patch that's he no stranger to "going viral," having had previous videos on his TikTok account, @louiscozz, be shared widely. But in a follow-up TikTok to the infamous clip, he said, "I can't believe how much this has blown up."

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Cozzolino witnessed what he says was the "man's rudeness" while eating at the diner on Saturday. So when he saw Albert approach the man's table, he knew something was going to happen, so he got out his phone and hit record.

"No one wanted to serve him because he demonstrated this behavior as a customer previously," Cozzolino said. "He was making comments toward her and other diners and employees."

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The video does not show what the customer said to spur the accusations against him.

@louiscozz Highly anticipated part 2 #SimsSelves #fyp #serverlife #server #KraftMacMeSkip
♬ original sound - Louiscozz

The Massapequa Diner describes itself as "the quintessential Long Island 'Greek' diner. Not just a touchstone in the early coffee-drinking career of Jerry Seinfeld, it provides the daily comforting meals that a busy populace need for sustenance. Nothing fancy, just fresh, well-prepared food, good portions and friendly faces. In short, everything a diner should be."

The diner owners had no comment.

Most of the comments on Cozzolino's videos were supportive of Albert, some saying her reaction was what many wish they could do to rude customers while working service jobs.

As of Wednesday morning, the video was liked 1.3 million times.

Cozzolino told Patch that the diner waitress is keeping a low profile after her sudden social media fame but that she is "overwhelmed by the love" she is being shown.


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