Who is Miles Tamboley? Memphis Tamboli Pasta and Pizza owner refuses to serve National Guard members
Miles Tamboli, owner of Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza in downtown Memphis, refused service to four uniformed members of the Tennessee National Guard. The decision sparked a backlash online, with some accusing him of being anti-military.
Despite the backlash, Tamboli remained defiant. “None of this changes my position. If anything, it confirms why this is important,” he told WREG. He added that his restaurant was forced to shut down its phones after people circulated his personal contact information online and encouraged others to call and email the restaurant.
He also said the controversy had hurt business and raised concerns about his family’s safety.
Who is Miles Tamboley?
Miles Tamboli is a Memphis entrepreneur and agricultural educator who describes himself as a “professional systems thinker” dedicated to creating “a more just world,” according to his LinkedIn profile.
He has owned Tamboli Produce Co. since 2018 and has led community agriculture programs in Memphis for more than a decade.
Tamboli also serves as Director of Farm Operations for Girls Inc. in Memphis, where he oversees the Girls Inc. Youth Farm. The program teaches young women about agriculture, entrepreneurship and leadership through sustainable farming.
He also helped found Simpson Street Farm in Portland, Ore., an urban farming initiative focused on ecological sustainability and community partnerships, according to his profile.
Tamboli earned a Bachelor of Science in Global and Community Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He also studied international development and global health through the International Training Institute, where he completed studies on gender equality and family health in Morocco.
Why was Tamboli denied service?
The incident occurred Saturday night when four uniformed members of the Memphis Security Task Force, including members of the Tennessee National Guard, entered Tamboli’s restaurant.
Tamboli said in a lengthy public statement on Tuesday that the decision was not specific to individual soldiers. He said this was for the entire military deployment.
“On Saturday night, we denied service to four uniformed members of the Memphis Safety Task Force, a decision I fully support,” Tamboly wrote.
He believed Memphis had become safer before the task force arrived.
“Through the first eight months of 2025, crime was at a 25-year low, according to the Memphis Police Department’s own data, later confirmed by an audit by the Tennessee Bureau of Independent Investigations.”
Tamboli claims the task force relies heavily on routine traffic stops rather than targeting violent crimes. He also pointed to the death of 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, who was shot and killed by National Guardsmen during a foot chase earlier this month. In response to criticism about the denial of service, Tamboli compared the brief encounter at the restaurant to Johnson’s death.
“Four young men were denied service, shrugged off, and went to eat elsewhere. They were fine. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old Memphian died… If people want to be outraged, that’s where the outrage lies,” Tamboli said.
WREG also reported that an employee claimed that other patrons clapped after the guard was asked to leave.
“Supporting security means telling the truth that actually protects communities, not combat-trained soldiers doing the job of the police,” Tamboli said.
