Popular Cape Town restaurant/bar Clarke’s has been hit with a slate of poor reviews on social media after an alleged racist incident took place on Friday.
According to patron Nicholas Vries, a “random white lady” sat down at his table and insulted his group of friends, calling them “common coloured and just being full on racist”.
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After repeated requests to management to have the person removed, Vries said his group was told to leave instead and the person was allowed to stay.
A second person, Lee Sophia Piedt, ostensibly part of Vries’s group, corroborated the story in a post on the Clarke’s Facebook page.
“The bouncers were pushing us around and the manager did not even acknowledge or apologise to us,” Piedt added.
Clarke’s has since responded to the original complaint, issuing a lengthy statement on the post itself but not apologising at first.
In the response, the eatery/bar called it a “nightmare scenario”, but blamed “poor staff training” for the incident.
The response hasn’t stopped social media users from review-bombing the Clarke’s Facebook page though. The eatery has seen a slew of one star reviews, decrying the incident and branded the establishment “racist”.
“Don’t waste your time or money here as this is just another racist Cape Town establishment. Expect slow service and a table in the back if you’re a person of colour and white patrons who think it’s funny to take pictures of you and laugh as you leave. Nothing but a hotspot for racists and gentrifiers,” wrote user Caro Le Tang.
Clarke’s saw its Facebook page bombarded with one star reviews
“Promoting racism in this day and age is a sin and you are responsible! Sies on you and your management labeling POC trouble makers! Disgraceful,” added user Viwe Hewu.
The restaurant then apologised on Sunday, saying it was “100% against racism”.
H/T: 2oceansvibe
Featured image: Clarke’s Facebook page
