Political commentator, lawyer, and former Georgia mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she was “turned away” from eating at a popular steakhouse, The Capital Grille, due to her attire.
Bottoms took to Twitter on Apr. 15 to express her frustration about the incident, which she said occurred at the restaurant’s Perimeter mall location in Dunwoody.
I was just turned away at @CapitalGrille at Perimeter Mall because I have on leggings. 🤷🏽♀️
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) April 15, 2022
“I was just turned away at @CapitalGrille at Perimeter Mall because I have on leggings,” she wrote.
She then detailed what happened after a news anchor responded to her tweet saying the steakhouse had a dress code policy on their official website.
“I know that’s frustrating. They do have a polite notice on their website at the bottom asking guest not to wear gym attire or sweat pants. Hopefully, they’re enforcing it with all [guests] and not picking and choosing,” said WSBTV’s Kristen Holloway.
I know that’s frustrating, they do have a polite notice on their website at the bottom asking guest not to wear gym attire or sweat pants. Hopefully they’re enforcing it with all guest and not picking and choosing. pic.twitter.com/lqWqTB4Ibe
— Kristen Holloway (@KHollowayWSB) April 15, 2022
Holloway’s screenshot indicated The Capital Grille’s list of prohibited clothing items for patrons who dine at the upscale eatery.
“Polite Notice — For the comfort of all guests and to better deliver on our promise of a refined atmosphere, proper dress is required,” it said. “Thank you for not wearing: gym attire, sweatpants, tank tops, hats, clothing with offensive language or images, exposed undergarments.”
However, Bottoms felt the policy was strange, being that the one she attempted to enter was inside of a mall.
“Odd that a restaurant in a mall parking lot turns away customers in ‘mall’ attire,'” she replied to the news reporter’s post. “[I] asked if I could sit in the bar area and was told, ‘No.’ Rules are the rules. [I] just wonder if the woman who came in immediately after me, who I did not see come back out, was also denied service.”
Odd that a restaurant in a mall parking lot turns away customers in “mall” attire. Asked if I could sit in the bar area and was told, “No.”. Rules are the rules, just wonder if the woman who came in immediately after me, who I did not see come back out, was also denied service. https://t.co/4GRq97cwGP
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) April 15, 2022
Her followers then pulled out photos of non-Black patrons who previously dined at the restaurant in leggings, including fellow Atlanta native and actor Daniel Newman.
“BLACK Democrat Mayor of Atlanta (my Friend) Keisha Lance Bottoms was refused service at @CapitalGrille… But WHITE Folk in gym clothes and T-shirts are totally fine at The Capital Grille,” he wrote. His tweet was accompanied by photos of white men at the franchise in athletic attire.
BLACK Democrat Mayor of Atlanta (my Friend) Keisha Lance Bottoms was refused service at @CapitalGrille …
But WHITE Folk in Gym clothes and T-shirts are totally fine at Capital grille pic.twitter.com/HDYkZRuqSs
— Daniel Newman (@DanielNewman) April 16, 2022
Representatives from the restaurants have not publicly responded to the former mayor’s accusations.
