'Happy wheelchair birthday' on dessert sparks apology from New Jersey restaurant
A birthday dinner at Blu on the Hudson in Weehawken took an unexpected turn when a dessert arrived with a message written in icing: “happy wheelchair birthday!”
Antonia Sinibaldi, a 29-year-old New Jersey resident, was celebrating her birthday with friends and family at the restaurant in June. Sinibaldi has relied on a motorized wheelchair and ventilator for most of her life after suffering a spinal injury in a car crash when she was 2 years old, according to nj.com. The Times of India reported that the accident involved a drunk driver.
Sinibaldi told CBS News the message came as a shock. “It took me by surprise,” she said. “I shouldn’t be reminded of something that I already know.”
She also noted that she had ordered the same dish as her cousin, so singling out her plate did not seem to make sense. When she raised the issue with management, they offered to send more drinks. “What good will that do?” she told CBS News. Both nj.com and The Times of India reported her reaction to the management's offer.
Sinibaldi declined further comment at the time of the reports. Messages left for Blu on the Hudson were not returned, according to nj.com.
Restaurant's apology
Blu on the Hudson issued an apology in a statement given to CBS News. The restaurant said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident, which took place on June 20, 2026.
“We sincerely apologize to the guest and to everyone who was hurt or offended by this incident,” the statement said, according to The Times of India. “Treating every guest with dignity, respect and care is fundamental to who we are as a company.”
The statement explained that the restaurant's standard procedure is to use table and seat numbers on tickets to identify where each dish should be delivered. In this instance, the word “wheelchair” was used to identify where a birthday dessert with a candle should be delivered. It was not intended to be written on the plate.
“There was absolutely no malicious or disrespectful intent behind the notation,” the statement read, “however, we fully understand how seeing that word written on a plate could be deeply hurtful and upsetting.”
Blu on the Hudson said it had since reinforced staff training on proper ticketing and communication, and added that it had unsuccessfully attempted to reconnect with Sinibaldi to apologize further. The statement also said the restaurant is committed to being a place where every guest feels welcomed, respected, and valued.
Sinibaldi's reaction
While the restaurant maintains that the message was a routing note for staff, Sinibaldi still feels the gesture was inappropriate, and she believes no such notation should have been needed because she had ordered the same dish as her cousin. She told The Times of India she was left speechless by the incident. The restaurant's apology acknowledged that seeing the word on a plate could still be hurtful despite its stated intent.