191880 Mon Aug 06 10:24:00 -0700 2001 25 18 Manhattan 0 1024543 Bad experience at Beppe on Saturday night. My partner had been when it first opened and had a truly disgusting meal, but had read that it had improved so we figured we'd try again, planning to meet a friend around 7:30 saturday night. We were a little early, so the hostess told us to have a seat at the bar and let her know when our friend arrived and she'd seat us at the MANY open tables around the bar - without a reservation, we thought that was fine. We were soon accosted by the maitre d, who informed us that he couldnt serve us this evening as we were wearing shorts - in the 90 degree heat of August. Astonished and a bit put off (we were not on the upper east side, or at Alain Ducasse, frankly, and they were NICE shorts), we sat glumly at the bar awaiting the arrival of our friend. At which point the maitre d told the bartender not to serve us drinks - now we were angry, especially after the maitre d then came over to us to repeat his inability to serve us in shorts. We politely told him we hoped that they closed soon and stalked out into the heat and humidity to await our friend. Needless to say, at least three different parties of people wearing shorts left the restaurant in the ten minutes we spent outside the restaurant awaiting our friend - TOTALLY unacceptable behavior. Mon Aug 06 10:24:00 -0700 2001 0 Ray O 1 1024546 I could not agree with you more. Totally unacceptable behavior. And bad business too, especially as they had empty tables, and therefore lost the business of yourself and your party, and probably any future business too. But one observation. The maitre d was an employee, not an owner. You must find some way to let the restaurant owner or owners find out about this bad treatment of you and your party, and the subsequent lost of business and future business. Mon Aug 06 11:16:15 -0700 2001 1024543 0 walter 2 1024549 That's discrimination - imposing a dress code and yet allowing OTHER people to be served who were wearing shorts. Go get em! Mon Aug 06 11:55:49 -0700 2001 1024546 0 Ruby 3 1024555 That brings up another question. Did the original poster specifically ask the maitre d why other patrons were allowed in with shorts, and his party not. If a restaurant puts in a dress code it must be adhered to by all. Mon Aug 06 12:39:15 -0700 2001 1024549 0 walter 4 1024557 Actually, there was a brief discussion of doing exactly that when the third group of shorts-wearers departed in one ten-minute period. However, having already decided to eat elsewhere (and being even more enraged), we thought it best to try not to let the rudeness and obvious discrimination ruin the evening. Happy to report it did not, with rare steak and frites at les halles washing away the lingering bitterness. Btw, I must say I have eaten in shorts in any number of better restaurants in Manhattan, including Fleur de Sel, Bouley Bakery and Babbo, with nary a raised eyebrow. Mon Aug 06 13:21:06 -0700 2001 1024555 0 Ray O 5 1024559 It sounds like you guys were definately picked on and should definately boycott the place for their rude treatment. I'm not a huge fan of men in shorts at nicer restaurants myself so I don't think being allowed in other finer restaurants is something to brag about but that's only my personal issue. Hell I don't even want to look at my own hairy legs while I'm eating let alone a strangers. Mon Aug 06 13:25:56 -0700 2001 1024557 0 iron frank 6 1024560 *Hell I don't even want to look at my own hairy legs while I'm eating let alone a strangers.* Ha Ha! You're funny!! :) Mon Aug 06 14:13:08 -0700 2001 1024559 0 Ruby 1 1024583 It sounds like they were kind of nasty. I will side with another chowhound and say I am not a fan of shorts at upscale restaurants (shorts at Babbo???). Its not the hairy legs that bother me...I just feel its inappropriate. Lisa P Mon Aug 06 18:51:08 -0700 2001 1024543 0 Lisa P 1 1024593 If you are referring to your behavior being unacceptable, I agree. If you wish to dine in shorts, pop another toaster goody in the oven and stay on your couch. Otherwise, put on a pair of pants. Your Uncle Brenny Tue Aug 07 09:49:45 -0700 2001 1024543 0 Uncle Brenny 2 1024600 Oh bullshit! Attire does not excuse this kind of unacceptable restaurant behavior. Many restaurants post a sign at the door saying "shorts and sandals and jeans not permitted." This restaurant was discriminating against this guy and, if it was because as another poster suggested, the couple are gay, that's even worse! Tue Aug 07 10:35:07 -0700 2001 1024593 0 Ruby 3 1024605 "Needless to say, at least three different parties of people wearing shorts left the restaurant in the ten minutes we spent outside the restaurant awaiting our friend" I read this to mean that other shorts-wearing patrons were also ejected. If I misread this and what really transpired was that they were not served due to some sort of discrimination, then I agree whole-heartedly that this was execrable behavior. Tue Aug 07 11:14:13 -0700 2001 1024600 0 Roger Lee 4 1024609 Now I'm confused! Hey, Ray, please clarify this point...were other shorts-wearing patrons ejected or were they leaving the restaurant after having dinner? Thanks. Tue Aug 07 11:34:30 -0700 2001 1024605 0 Ruby 5 1024610 The three shorts-clad groups had CLEARLY not been ejected as we had, and had as CLEARLY eaten dinner there (since no one else came in while we waited at the bar for our friend, nor while we fumed on the steamy sidewalk outside). Some may even had had drinks at the bar. Tue Aug 07 11:50:13 -0700 2001 1024609 0 Ray O 6 1024612 Ah, well then this is a case of discrimination rather than inappropriate apparel. Only one question - Why? The whole thing makes no sense to me. A restaurateur with empty tables is an unhappy one. A restaurateur with one less empty table is a marginally less unhappy one. When I was in the biz, the only time we denied anyone service is when they made an absolute terminal pain of themselves (I am not suggeting that you did so - I just can't figger out what's going on here). As for the gay thing, I've never heard of a NYC restaurant turning away a paying customer over that. Tue Aug 07 11:59:33 -0700 2001 1024610 0 Roger Lee 7 1024614 I agree - astounding and mystifying. In any case, we won't be going back - EVER - and do indeed hope the restaurant closes soon. Tue Aug 07 12:12:59 -0700 2001 1024612 0 Ray O 1 1024596 It could have been something else they were discriminating against. you mention your partner, so I'm assuming you are two gay males. Were the other diners in shorts breeders? It still happens. Tue Aug 07 10:04:55 -0700 2001 1024543 0 Shaun 1 1024597 It could have been something else they were discriminating against. you mention your partner, so I'm assuming you are two gay males. Were the other diners in shorts breeders? It still happens. Tue Aug 07 10:05:03 -0700 2001 1024543 0 Shaun 1 1024601 I make it a point to check on a restaurants' dress code before showing up to avoid just this eventuality. Restaurants are free to impose whatever dress codes they choose; they are private establishments. As a diner, you are free to choose which ones you patronize. If you choose not to dine at a restaurant that imposes (for instance) a jacket and tie dress code because it's too hot and humid, that's your prerogative. If on the other hand, you neglect to determine what the rules are prior to showing up, blaming the restaurant for enforcing their code seems a little unfair. Tue Aug 07 10:42:50 -0700 2001 1024543 0 Roger Lee 2 1024603 "If on the other hand, you neglect to determine what the rules are prior to showing up, blaming the restaurant for enforcing their code seems a little unfair." From reading Ray's posts, it seems other people were in shorts and Were Served so this goes beyond the restaurant enforcing a dress code. If there is any kind of policy anywhere, then it should be followed across-the-board -- not just when it's convenient and then enforced selectively. Tue Aug 07 11:06:33 -0700 2001 1024601 0 Ruby 1 1024602 Although I was annoyed by the no shorts "policy", that was not the point of the initial posting. It was said "policy"'s obvious selective application which set me off, as well as the rudeness regarding the no drinks (which I would point out I had no intention of ordering - we were really just sitting there waiting for our tardy friend). While I would not say I agree with other chowhounds' ideas regarding dining in shorts in restaurants, I do agree that it is the restaurant's perogative and I was fine with eating elsewhere until the subsequent events. As for whether the discrimination was related to the fact that we are gay, I honestly couldn't say. Tue Aug 07 10:58:23 -0700 2001 1024543 0 Ray O 1 1024616 With regards to the other short-wearing patrons, is it possible that the restaurant has a policy of permitting shorts during the afternoon or early evening but not after, say 7:00 pm? So, the people you saw leaving as you waited for your friend had arrived prior to that certain time. This sounds funny but I know of at least one place that forbids shorts after a certain hour. I am, by no means condoning the way you were treated, but perhaps there is a more rational explanation than plain old discrimination. Tue Aug 07 13:08:11 -0700 2001 1024543 0 Miguel Gierbolini 2 1024620 Miguel, you may be on to something. Beppe starts serving at 5:30. I just called and asked the reservationist if there was a dress code - I stated that it was so hot that we might wear shorts. She said "no shorts for dinner - it's okay for earlier. Casual dress is okay but no shorts." So maybe as you say, people in shorts were leaving after an early dinner. Tue Aug 07 15:07:11 -0700 2001 1024616 0 Ruby 3 1024623 So if this is he case, Ray's initial point stands - the maitre'd was a jerk and he presented the restaurant terribly. To draw a line this way - on a hot day, when people were then in the restaurant similarly attired - was unforgivably rude. Tue Aug 07 15:35:03 -0700 2001 1024620 0 jen kalb 4 1024628 Yup! The maitre'd sounds like a jerk and I would complain to the owner. As for me, I've never been to Beppe and because of Ray's experience, I won't go in the future. There are just too many restaurants and I wouldn't be surprised if the maitre'd finds himself on the unemployment line soon if he continues his rude behavior. Tue Aug 07 16:05:43 -0700 2001 1024623 0 Ruby 1 1024761 Of course, it's a theoretical possibility that you could tuck one or two of those "travel skirts" into your bag, in case this should unexpectedly happen again. Fri Aug 10 08:59:03 -0700 2001 1024543 0 ironmom 1 1025314 i can understand the shorts thing and being upset on a hot and steamy day....but there is no denying the fact that the food at Beppe is great. Fri Aug 24 16:15:43 -0700 2001 1024543 0 Cristina