Watch CBS News

Restaurant Group Apologizes After Black Boy, Mother Denied Service At Baltimore's Ouzo Bay

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Atlas Restaurant Group on Monday apologized to a Black boy and his mother who were denied service at Ouzo Bay over the weekend due to an alleged dress code violation despite a similarly-dressed white boy being allowed to dine at the restaurant.

A video of the encounter posted on Instagram shows a restaurant employee telling the woman her son's outfit violates the restaurant's policy banning athletic shorts. The woman points out the white child's similar clothing and repeatedly asks the employee why her son can't dine at the restaurant when the other child could.

Two Ouzo Bay Managers No Longer With Restaurant After Black Boy Denied Service Over Alleged Dress Code Violation

In a statement, Atlas Restaurant Group said they were "sickened" by the incident and said it should never have happened.

"This difficult situation does not represent who or what Atlas Restaurant Group stands for," the statement reads. "While dress codes across Atlas properties are the result of ongoing input from customers, in no way are they intended to be discriminatory. That said, this past weekend's incident at Ouzo Bay clearly serves as a moment we will learn from and create change."

The manager in the video has been placed on "indefinite leave," the statement said.

RELATED COVERAGE:

Another Baltimore restaurant owned by Atlas, Choptank in Fells Point, also drew criticism for its dress code last year, leading the restaurant to make changes to its policy.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.