A St. Louis restaurant has sparked a huge backlash after it introduced a long list of new rules including “no hoodies,” “saggy pants” and “sleeveless tank tops for men” — despite its own staff being scantily clad in tiny uniforms.
The restaurant, Social Bar and Grill Soulard, located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, posted their new policy outside the bar window and on an easel near the host stand earlier this month.
Under the new dress code, masks, hoodies, saggy pants, backpacks, men’s sleeveless tank tops and overly revealing outfits are now prohibited in the establishment.
The bar provided few details about the reason for the new rules, saying only: ‘in an effort to provide an enjoyable experience for fellow diners and staff, we ask that you respect our policies.’
They concluded the letter by saying that “all are welcome,” but also added, “We reserve the right to refuse service. Our house. Our rules.’
Many customers were furious and said the rules were hypocritical, with more than 600 people expressing their fears on Reddit.
Some claimed the rules were racist or anti-LGBTQ, while others seemed amused to ask if this was the same establishment that once had their servers dressed topless and adorned in body paint.
In response to these lines, someone wrote: ‘F*** this place! Implicit racism and right-wing bulls***.”
Another said: ‘No revealing outfits… ‘from where the female staff used to paint their torsos.’
Pictured: The dress code and dining policy that Social Bar & Grill Soulard issued to their customers. The board is placed outside the bar window and on an easel near the guest stand
A recent post of some of the servers dressed all in white while holding some alcohol
The Social Bar & Grill Soulard is located in downtown St. Louis
The bar’s new dining policy states that customers can no longer return their food and request a refund. Customers should also be specific about the temperature of their food when placing an order.
When it comes to tips, a 20 percent gratuity is automatically added to bills for customers who don’t tip. For customers paying by credit card, valid ID is required for orders over $25.
The establishment said it has a zero-smoking policy, stating: “Guests emitting marijuana odors, vaping indoors, or exhibiting loud and disrespectful behavior will be asked to leave.”
One Reddit user said: ‘A long list of random rules, like we’re back in high school.’
“If I had to read a whole page of rules to get to the restaurant, I would just choose a different restaurant,” said another.
While others wondered if they were being singled out by ‘the rules’.
“It’s a thinly veiled ‘LGBT not allowed’.”
“Yes, this would immediately tell me to leave,” said another Reddit user.
In the photo: the waiters at the bar in St. Louis, where girls wear body paint on their torsos and are scantily clad
The servers pose for a photo with the caption “Check out our paint” at the St. Louis bar
A photo of the female servers showing off their barely there uniforms at the Social Bar & Grill
The restaurant has been in business for 40 years with locations in St. Louis, The Ozarks and Detroit, according to the company’s website
One commenter was so baffled that they wrote: ‘Not only is this an incredibly lazy and obnoxious way of addressing the issue, it also generalizes to such a wide range of potential customers who will legitimately want to enjoy your food and atmosphere.
“Someone mentioned possible racism, and I don’t think I would comment on that, even though based on their rules they certainly aren’t doing themselves any favors with that denial.”
One furious reader joked: ‘Ridiculous rules that convey hostility and not hospitality.’
According to their website, the restaurant has been around for 40 years with locations in St. Louis, The Ozarks and Detroit.
‘For us it’s all about good food and good company. And our loyal customers will tell you we know how to do it right,” the site said.
‘As part of the Social restaurant group, we take food seriously at Social Bar & Grill Soulard. We always prefer handmade over frozen and follow our own family traditions when it comes to bringing food to the table.
‘Come by and join the family, we bring the high-quality ‘Sunday Dinner’ dishes that we have been serving at our own table for generations. We’re glad you’re here and invite you to come back every day of the week to eat, drink and socialize.”
In 2016, the restaurant posted a series of tweets X, formerly Twitter, who describe themselves as a ‘Social Home for Excellent Food! The sexiest staff in Soulard! We are ideal for lunch, happy hour, live bands and nightlife!’
One of the posts is of a photo of a brunette server wearing black body paint on her torso with the caption: ‘Social tacos and ta-tas..Is there a better pair? Join us every Thursday for $1 tacos and $3 margaritas and coronas.”
Another tweet shows another scantily clad woman: ‘I love the body paint on our girls!? Find out how you can participate during dinner at Social House.’
Social Bar and Grill Soulard did not return DailyMail.com’s request for comment.