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Veterans blocked from Wolfgang Puck restaurant in Dallas
Okay, it has to be hard to turn a nonagenarian away from a restaurant, right? How about one who's a decorated World War II hero who spent two years in a POW camp and five of his buddies? Well, this is what happened at the up-market Five Sixty restaurant, a Wolfgang Puck property in Dallas. Their transgression: failing to meet the dress code.
The vets were holding their annual reunion; they were survivors of the "Black Thursday," a 1943 German bombing mission. If bending the rules is ever warranted, these are the guys who have earned it. Yet, clad in baseball caps, shorts and POW t-shirts, they weren't able to strike the necessary pose to get in.
According to USA Today:
"I figure if I spent two years in a POW camp, I could have handled the privilege of sitting in that fancy restaurant a few minutes," said 93-year-old Jay Coberly, a member of the Second Schweinfurt Memorial Association and a bombardier with the decorated 8th Army Air Force, known as the Mighty 8th. "We've been all over the country, and we've never had this kind of problem. Dallas must be a first-class town."
The restaurant has, unsurprisingly, taken action, sending the vets two bottles of Scotch, a written apology and an invitation come back to Five Sixty. The group isn't going to take the offer, though, reports USA Today: "We were humiliated once," she said, "so I don't think they have any interest in stepping back in there."
[photo by respres via Flickr]
Filed under: Food and Drink, North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chuck Oct 17th 2010 12:39PM
That's just terrible. My grandfather who is not with us anymore was a WWII Vet. Along with 3 of his brothers and many uncles, grand uncles, etc. What a shame.
CHEF Alex Oct 18th 2010 2:30PM
I have never tasted repulsive food , well once it was a frozen Wolfgang Puck meal! If it was my restaurant he would have eaten for free anyway.
Slappy Oct 17th 2010 3:34PM
Not sure I agree with this being terrible, there's a dress code, they chose not to follow it, what's the big deal?
Fred Oct 18th 2010 3:20PM
Since u never served for our country, u will never know what a true American had to endure. Enjoy your freedom, those veterans gave it to u.
CHEF Alex Oct 19th 2010 3:46AM
Well I had no dress code because all people spend money and do not always have the opportunity to run home and change clothes. So according to you if a baseball team or a group come in I should turn them away? You must be "elite" lol no one is any better than anyone else! get real !
Range Dog G Oct 17th 2010 5:10PM
I've been to a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. It's no big deal in that it's really casual. So if someone is wearing a Halloween costume without shorts or ball caps, they would be allowed?
CHEF Alex Oct 19th 2010 3:46AM
Right! My thing is this, the Veteran made it possible for Wolfgang to be here and made it possible so we could speak our minds, In my mind I would have to slap you upside your head if you did that to my father in fact you would be visiting a emergency room! NO JOKE! You are an ingrate!
kelley Oct 17th 2010 5:39PM
The only thing I find offensive is the Scotch.
Why should they get a free pass? They signed up for a job, with full knowledge of the possible consequences, including getting killed.
Do all the first responders at the towers get to show up in Speedos? How about police and firefighters that risk their lives to save strangers? Or nurses and doctors and teachers...?
I'm gonna take a wild guess and suggest these gentlemen never showed up for work in shorts and baseball caps - they've known for decades about the concept of appropriate dress.
I for one, would feel rather awkward if I followed the dress code and everyone else felt they had a reason not to. I can imagine spending dinner with people pointing and talking about me, saying I must not have done anything heroic or significant, so I'm stuck wearing slacks and a dress shirt.
Douglas Todd Oct 17th 2010 11:28PM
Kelley Opines:
"Why should they get a free pass? They signed up for a job, with full knowledge of the possible consequences, including getting killed. "
Actually that is not accurate -- most WWII Vets were drafted and did not volunteer. The Volunteers were those of us who went to Vietnam -- and even there we had some Draftees.
Amphib Oct 18th 2010 7:05PM
Are you that daft? Even when you volenteer for a military combat job you still have NO REAL CLUE what your getting into till you are in the worst possible situations.
They fought to keep you free and have rights many in this world still don't have.
What have you done for this country or the world? They put their lives on the line for all. You sit on your arse at home. Nice.
Semper FI all past and present and because of brave men and women like these gentelman future.
just a Marine
Fred Oct 18th 2010 3:18PM
Signed up. It was not a vol military they were called to serve. It was not like Today's military, big pay, great living areas and welcome party's every 8 to 12 months. Do your homework fool.
rick Oct 17th 2010 5:49PM
slappy deserves his name......who did the vets defeat in ww11......lots of woifgangs...get it or have you been slap too many times.......
Shelby Oct 26th 2010 10:27PM
These Vets were celebrating a Reunion,,, Okay,,, Then any military soldier worth his weight would of done a pre execution check list:
One: Calling to see if they needed reservations or Viewing Wolfgangs online to see the "Dress Code"....
I love my Vets, I am a Veteran ~ However, if these gentleman wanted to celebrate in what they considered a fancy restaurant, Then they should of planned accordingly and dressed for the occasion, Not Shorts & Baseball hats! I'm guessing these Military Men deserve praise & respect for serving their country proudly, and on that same note, Military Men more so than anyone else know about following Rule, Regulations & Uniform (Civilian) Attire.
It's a shame they are making the news for this reason.
Brenda Oct 19th 2010 12:54AM
I read the article in the Dallas Morning News including some of the comments. A lady volunteered to set up the tours for the veterans. She called Wolfgang Puck's restaurant, Five-Sixty. They told her that the dress code was casual. They failed to define their version of casual. The restaurant personnel was to blame for not doing so. They humiliated the veterans and the lady who volunteered to set things up. She was not a paid consultant who dealt with the restaurant on a continual basis. It was clearly the restaurant's fault.