San Francisco Chef Faces Backlash After TikTok Incident

A well-known chef in San Francisco has found himself at the center of a viral scandal involving influencers who visited his restaurant for a collaboration, impacting his career and “healing” his family.

Luke Son, 52, recounted a tense moment at Kiss Café in Hayes Valley. Microinfluencer Carla Marcott, known as @itskarlabb on TikTok, claimed she felt disrespected by the chef last month, despite his nominations for a James Beard Award. She detailed her experience in a video posted online.

“She came in at 5 PM when the dining area was open. My partner didn’t tell me she was there until she arrived, so it caught me off guard,” Son recalled of Marcotte’s unexpected entry into his restaurant.

“I thought she might greet me enthusiastically, but instead, she just sat down without any introduction,” he shared, clearly disappointed. “My expectations for professionalism have consistently let me down.”

Once the chef, who previously led a popular Californian and French eatery, began looking through Marcotte’s social media, he noted her portrayal of the incident felt exaggerated.

“I wanted to see what she was about, so I started watching her TikTok. Soon enough, I noticed videos of creamy spaghetti on bread with excess New York steak,” he said. “That evening, I had a special featuring coho salmon, and I didn’t want any misrepresentation regarding the differences between types of salmon.”

Son mentioned he advised Marcotte to “study” more about the restaurant scene after she suggested she only knew it as a “wine bar.” After their conversation, she left feeling he had not treated her with respect.

“Before she left, she remarked, ‘The restaurant world is very small. There will be consequences,’” he recalled, indicating the impact her words had on him.

In the aftermath, Son faced what he described as a digital hate campaign that severely affected both his family and his business. His restaurant, which typically served around 100 diners a night, was bombarded with negative reviews on Yelp, as he further explained.

Kiss Café, which opened recently, released a statement clarifying that Son had made a mutual decision to part ways as co-owner and was not technically fired.

“Our chef’s actions were unacceptable, and he’s no longer part of the team,” the restaurant clarified in a social media post.

The fallout led Son to step back from a position at another sushi restaurant after online backlash targeted him internationally.

This turmoil also affected Son’s children deeply, with his daughter crying through the night and his son facing similar negativity. “My family is shattered. We need to come together and heal,” he expressed.

Since the incident, Marcott’s following has surged to over 475,000, spotlighting her narrative as an advocate for lesser-known influencers who deserve respect regardless of their follower counts.

Reflecting on the situation, Son admitted that while he acknowledges the need for humility, the event underscores how quickly a moment can tarnish a career. “I’m proud to be a chef, and I suppose that affected my tone with Marcotte. Perhaps if I didn’t hold such pride, things might have gone differently,” he pondered.

“I mean, what’s the point for young chefs learning to cook if anyone can just waltz into your restaurant and dismiss your expertise?” he questioned.

As of now, Marcotte has not publicly responded to requests for comments regarding the situation.