Young Aussie kicked out of restaurant for dining alone: ‘What a loser’
Young Aussie kicked out of restaurant because she went to eat alone: ’What a loser’
- Star had to leave due to the restaurant’s policy
- Venues were urged to be more welcoming of solo diners
- Admits she would go back despite the ordeal
A Married At First Sight star has described the horror and humiliation of being kicked out of a popular restaurant simply because she was dining alone.
Claire Nomarhas wanted to enjoy a Korean barbecue feast at a packed Melbourne eatery on Sunday night, but was then ordered to leave by the wait staff.
The controversial TV star’s dinner plans were thrown into disarray after she was unaware of the strict two-person-per-table policy.
While Nomarhas did not want to name and shame the restaurant, she has called on venues to be more accepting of solo diners.
“I waited in line for 25 minutes and sat down,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
MAFS star Claire Nomarhas (pictured) was ordered to leave a Melbourne restaurant because she was dining alone
‘After a few minutes the staff started turning on the barbecue burners and asked when my friend was coming.
“When I said I was my own, they told me to leave.”
The restaurant, which only accepts walk-ins, was packed with diners at the time.
“It was embarrassing, but I wasn’t really offended or angry,” Nomarhas added.
“A restaurant next to me that was celebrating a birthday contacted me afterwards and said she regretted not asking me to participate.”
Nomarhas left without a fuss, but shared an Instagram story after remembering her ordeal.
“I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life,” she explains.
‘So I don’t have any drama about going out to dinner by myself.
‘I like good food alone. It tells me I don’t understand, that my balls aren’t busting, and that I eat whatever the fuck I want. Happy Days.
‘I feel so ashamed. What a loser.’
Claire Nomarhas (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia she likes to dine alone because she can order whatever she wants
Three days later, Nomarhas didn’t want to bring further shame to the restaurant and admitted she would go back with friends.
“I don’t want them to lose business as a lot of people are struggling right now,” she said.
“Looking back, I can understand why they had this policy.”
But Nomarhas pointed out that not everyone has dining companions or is happier eating alone.
“I’m a huge foodie and I love eating alone because I can order whatever I want,” she said.
‘Restaurants need to be open to the fact that not everyone is in a relationship. Imagine the shame for someone who is told he can dine there alone and has just lost his partner.’
Sydney chef Luke Mangan said solo diners are more than welcome at his venues.
“100 percent, I encourage it,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
Restauranteur Luke Mangan (pictured) said solo diners are welcomed to his venues with open arms
“Both of our restaurants are in hotels, so we have a lot of single people staying in the rooms, so we really encourage this,” he explained.
“If I do a restaurant, I make room for a bar because single guys want to sit at the bar and talk to the bartender.”
“It’s not as big here in Australia as it is in the United States, but it’s very important that we take care of the single guests because they can bring back a large group of people within a week.
“I’m surprised people are dismissing this company.”
Mr Mangan is opening a new restaurant in Sydney this weekend.
He openly invited Nomarhas to come for lunch or dinner as a solo diner at one of his restaurants.
“Tell me what time and I’ll be there,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
Claire Nomarhas (pictured with her boyfriend) is not angry, but said the incident was embarrassing