Missouri restaurant sparks backlash with new age restrictions for guests that bans women under 30 to avoid ‘drama from young folk’… but you will never guess how old men have to be

A Missouri restaurant has taken exclusivity to a new level by imposing the same age restriction on its customers as required for the presidency of the United States.

Men must be at least 35 to dine at Bliss, which opened last month in suburban St. Louis, while women can gain entry as young as 30.

Owner Marvin Pate, who is only just qualifying at the age of 36, said the restriction has created an atmosphere of “pure utopia” for his graying customers.

But the unusual age bar has left a bad taste in the mouths of less seasoned diners.

The chic outlet in Florissant specializes in West African and Caribbean dishes and promises a ‘sophisticated environment’ and a ‘unique ambiance’.

Owner Marvin Pate – who has only just qualified at the age of 36 – acknowledged that not everyone understood

“It’s just something for the older people to come and do and have a happy hour, get good food and not have to worry about the young people bringing some of that drama,” said assistant manager Erica Rhodes.

“Obviously we’ve had some adversity,” Pate admitted. ‘But that’s fine, because we stick to our code.

‘It represents pure happiness and pure utopia. It’s a home away from home. You can come here and feel like you’re really at a resort.”

And many eligible diners have responded enthusiastically to the idea.

‘I love this!’ wrote Kathy Mein. “Nothing worse than going out for a celebratory/romantic dinner and having kids at the next table.”

‘I can honestly say I would make a reservation there in a heartbeat!’ wrote Roxanne Mailloux.

“If you’re from St. Louis, you would understand,” Jessica Brown added. ‘The amount of violence that happens here is crazy, especially when people are drinking.

“Bliss doesn’t want their s*** torn up or employees getting hurt because people want to fight over petty s***.”

Anyone entering must show identification to a hostess or St. Louis County police officer after 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday

The chic outlet in Florissant specializes in West African and Caribbean dishes and promises a ‘sophisticated environment’ and a ‘unique ambiance’

Even more people disagreed that the restaurant let women in five years before men.

“So Leonardo DiCaprio could go, but his girlfriend couldn’t,” Jonathan Bowen noted.

“I suspect the 30/35 difference is due to the awkward fact that most guys seem to mature a little slower than women, lol,” wrote Jonathan Edward Smith.

‘I know many more thirty-year-old women with their sex together than men of the same age.’

“I don’t agree with their choice, but why 30 for women and 35 for men?” asked Alison L. Smith.

‘That’s the only thing that bothers me. Why couldn’t it just be one fixed age for both genders?’

Owner Marvin Pate, who is only just qualifying at the age of 36, said the restriction has created an atmosphere of “pure utopia” for his graying customers.

Others warned that the outfit may have chosen too blunt a tool as they try to avoid disruptive dinner parties.

“I know about 40, 50, 60 year old adolescents and about 21-35 years who behave better than them in public in a food/bar environment,” Rico Bucci wrote.

“In some places it will work, in other places it won’t.”

“If it was a place where people over 55 were banned, there would be outrage,” Elizabeth Bizios wrote on Facebook.

But it has caught the attention of others in the restaurant industry, with some suggesting the idea could be expanded.

“Because my customers don’t read the menu, I suggested a sign on the door saying you must be literate to get in here, and I was told that would be discrimination,” Andrew Bromund wrote.

‘If this can fly, my idea must be able to fly too.’

“Trust me when I say I’m from this region and I’ve worked in the industry for 20 years and it was implemented for a reason,” Becky Dowling added. “Smart of them to do this.”

“It’s just something for the older people to come and do and have a happy hour, get good food and not have to worry about the young people bringing some of that drama,” said assistant manager Erica Rhodes.

Others believed the restaurant may have misjudged its market.

“I can’t put ‘luxury’ and ‘Florissant’ in the same sentence,” wrote Melissa Mowday. “Born and raised and extremely confused lol.”

“I think you have to be 75 to actually live in Florissant Missouri,” Janel Kane claimed.

But the backlash hasn’t fazed Pate, who says he looks forward to welcoming those too young to dine.

“Those young people, you can come and patronize the business once you turn 30 or 35 because we’re going to be here for a while,” he said.