A couple say they have lodged a complaint following the incident
A Belfast restaurant has defended a member of staff while apologising for any offence or discomfort caused after it was claimed a Lebanese customer was given a dish with a “Star of David” drawn on it.
The incident took place on Monday, July 28, when a couple visited COSMO in Victoria Square to go for a meal. They have said that while they were enjoying their meal, the man – who is originally from Lebanon – got to talking with one of the chefs who had asked him if he was here visiting on holiday.
The man says he told the chef where he was from and that he had lived in Northern Ireland for more than 10 years and went on with his meal with his partner and her young child.
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Later the man went to get more food at the buffet and asked for a mussels dish in order to try it and was shocked to receive a plate that had “sauce in the shape of a Star of David” on it. The couple allege that following this the chef “stared” at the man and they felt that this happened because of where he is from.
Speaking to Belfast Live, the man’s partner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “After this I enquired with COSMO if it is normal for the mussels to be presented with a shape drawn in sauce like this and they said that it was not and they have not given a reasonable explanation as to why my partner received his plate like this.
“The only reason we can see for this happening is because of my partner being from Lebanon and the chef had asked him, before this took place, where he was from. We feel they have tried to try a Star of David on the plate as a way of having a go at him with everything going on and the genocide.
“We feel like their apology is very half-hearted after the offence they have caused my partner and I we have been very disappointed with their response to it all.”
COSMO has said that it apologises for “any offence or discomfort this caused” and that the shape on the plate was meant to be a gesture of goodwill and warmth to the customer that would create a personal touch to his dining experience.
“At COSMO, we pride ourselves on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for every guest who walks through our doors. We recently received feedback from a guest who was understandably concerned about an incident involving a gesture made by one of our teppanyaki chefs. We want to take a moment to address this situation directly and clarify our intentions.
“During a recent dining experience, our teppanyaki chef drew a shape on a guest’s plate, meant to be a gesture of goodwill and warmth. The intention behind this was simply to create a pleasant and personal touch to the dining experience, much like drawing a heart, a circle, or any other friendly shape that would symbolise positivity and kindness.
“However, we understand that this gesture was perceived as something else, and we sincerely apologise for any offence or discomfort this caused. We acknowledge that the shape, though innocent in its intention, can hold deeper meanings for some, and we regret that this misunderstanding occurred. Please rest assured that our chef did not have any intention to offend, and the gesture was purely made in the spirit of hospitality.
“At COSMO, we are committed to ensuring every guest feels valued and respected, and we take all concerns seriously. We will continue to be mindful of the gestures we make in our efforts to enhance the guest experience, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow from this feedback.
“We truly appreciate the support of our community and guests.”
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