A steady stream of cars let out diners who craned their necks at the protesters as they walked inside. "Eat somewhere that pays your workers!" yelled a few women from the picket line. Power tools on Corner Table's patio were conspicuously turned on to drown out the din. And in front of the large plate glass window that faced the picket line, a giant white shuttle was pulled around so that the view was entirely blocked.

Inside the restaurant, a hostess graciously but nervously led over an elegant, well-dressed woman whom she identified as a manager. The manager, who wished only to be identified as Leslie, was calm but firm.

"This has nothing to do with the restaurant," she said. "This is about [chef Molzan's] former enterprise, and he's not affiliated with them any longer."

Along with other lawsuits Molzan has been involved in over the years, the former owner of Ruggles sued the employees who walked out on him at Ruggles -- despite acknowledging that he owned them money. But Molzan is not an owner at Corner Table. That would be Darla Lexington. Lexington is perhaps best known as the longtime companion of famous Texas lawyer John O'Quinn, who died in a car accident in 2009. Should Lexington or Corner Table pay for Molzan's transgressions?

"We sent out pizzas," Leslie continued. "We don't want to be ugly. There's no need to be ugly."

But, Leslie finished, "I think there's some facts they don't have straight."

Back outside, the protest that had begun at 6 p.m. was still in full swing an hour later despite night falling. The lines of cars pulling in to Corner Table's valet seemed to be energizing them as much as the pizzas had.

"They're just trying to shut us up," said Perez-Boston. "It won't work."