A video of a dog sitting on a puppy training pad inside one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants has reignited a heated online debate. The footage, taken at the Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza location in Battersea and posted to TikTok, shows a person holding a sausage dog on a lead over the training pad in the middle of the dining area.
Shocked Diners and Social Media Reaction
As shocked diners looked on, lifestyle influencer Gizelle Cade, who posted the video and has over 35,000 followers, could be heard asking: 'Why is there a dog using a wee wee pad in a restaurant? What is that?' A page on Gordon Ramsay Restaurants' website, which lists rules about dogs in his establishments, states that dogs are allowed outside only.
Comments from outraged viewers came flooding in, with many asking if the incident could be reported to the Food Standards Agency. One commenter said: 'I’m a dog owner, actually an assistance dog handler too so my dog comes absolutely everywhere with me (not a pet) and this is still a massive NO.' Others called it 'foul' and 'disrespectful to those eating', while some said they would walk out and refuse to pay.
Influencer's Response and Payment Dispute
However, Ms Cade did pay before walking out and made another video warning people against going to Street Pizza. 'Gordon Ramsay pizza restaurant in London - I want to tell you guys never come eat here,' she said as she stood outside the establishment. In another video, Ms Cade replied to a comment asking why she paid the bill. Holding up her receipt showing a £72.45 bill, she said: 'Yes they did charge us. They charged us the full 15 per cent service charge. That's kind of where I drew the line, like this is too much. The service charge was a bit much and at that point you're laughing at me.' She went on to claim the manager took the optional service charge off the bill 'after fighting' with her over it and 'going back and forth', but alleged he did not give them a discount on the rest of the bill after their complaint about the dog. The influencer said the incident and the manager's lack of action was 'unacceptable in London and anywhere in the world'.
Context of Service Charges
This incident comes after the celebrity chef, 59, sparked a debate over tipping last week when it was revealed his festive menus at his Lucky Cat restaurants charged a 20 per cent service charge. The service charges on the regular menu and at his other eateries are generally set at 15 per cent, which is still higher than the typical 10 per cent or 12.5 per cent service charge added to bills at most restaurants in the UK. Mr Ramsay's tips are even higher than those typically in place at the establishments of his rivals, such as his former mentor Marco Pierre White's English Chophouse, which adds 12.5 per cent to bills. Raymond Blanc's Brasserie Blanc, Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck, and Rick Stein's Fish Restaurant all use a 12.5 per cent service charge.
Daily Mail has approached Gordon Ramsay Restaurants for comment.
