A downtown Miami bartender says a customer twice shoved her to the ground during a confrontation at Bayside Marketplace, leaving her with a concussion, bruises and a damaged tooth that needed emergency dental work. The bartender, Nicky Roberts, says she is now too frightened to return to her job at the Hard Rock Cafe. Miami police took a report, but as of Tuesday evening detectives had not identified the man as a suspect.
According to WSVN, the clash began Sunday night after Roberts told a customer he could not stand at the service bar or snack on garnishes set aside for drinks. She told the outlet the man got angry, summoned a manager and said he was a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder who would not allow a woman to speak to him that way. Roughly 30 minutes later, Roberts said, he shoved her as she walked back into the restaurant.
“It was so scary; it all happened so fast,” Roberts told WSVN. She said she ran after the man to snap photos that might help identify him, but outside the Hard Rock he allegedly slapped her phone from her hand and shoved her a second time. Roberts said that second shove left her with a missing tooth, while bruises from both encounters and a concussion added to the list of injuries.
Police Have Not Identified A Suspect
City of Miami Police took a report on the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward. As of Tuesday evening, detectives had not publicly identified the man as a suspect, and the available report did not list an arrest.
Similar Bayside Assault Led To Arrest In 2025
The reported attack comes on the heels of another violent confrontation involving a Bayside restaurant worker. In May 2025, a 20-year-old man was arrested after police said he punched a Chili’s employee, knocked him unconscious and caused him to lose five front teeth, Local 10 News reported. That case led to an aggravated-battery charge, while the man accused of attacking Roberts had not been identified as of Tuesday.
For Roberts, the immediate worry is her own safety on the job. She says she is too scared to return to the Hard Rock Cafe while police continue working to determine who attacked her.
