San Antonio River Walk brawl started by customer pissed off about his bill captured on video

A brawl broke out at a popular River Walk eatery Friday when an enraged patron got physical with staff members after refusing to pay his bill, according to a police report.

The patron was mad about the service at The Original Mexican Restaurant and restaurant staff told police he looked as if he was preparing to leave without paying for his food or drinks, according to the report. After the argument escalated, the man reportedly threw punches, leading to a full-scale brawl on the river.

In a video posted on Twitter, at least six men can be seen throwing punches, with one patron hitting another over the head with a chair. The melee caught the interest of a passing Go Rio River Cruise, which stopped as riders caught the carnage on video.

When they don’t bring the shredded cheese fast enough…#Puro #Riverwalk #SanAntonio pic.twitter.com/yXP7K28lD3

— BootlegBentley (@UTSABootleg) July 18, 2022

The incident garnered attention on Twitter, with some users speculating that the waiter didn’t bring enough shredded cheese. Others commented on the tour guide’s decision to stop the boat and watch the altercation play out.

In the video, San Antonio police officers can be seen tackling two of the men involved in the fight, bringing it to a close. According to the Express-News, a 30-year-old man was arrested on assault charges, and no significant injuries were reported.


Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the fight began at The Original Mexican Restaurant, according to police records.

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