A pregnant woman with twins was denied service because her belly was exposed. Photo / Facebook
A pregnant woman with twins was denied service because her belly was exposed. Photo / Facebook
A mother who is heavily pregnant with twins was turned away from a Washington steakhouse by staff who said her crop top violated its health code.
Charisha Gobin, 35, is seven-and-a-half months pregnant with opposite sex twins.
She went to the Buzz Inn Steakhouse in Maryville on Sunday with her mother and sister, wearing a black crop top and long white skirt with her bare bump hanging out.
The woman, who already has four children, was horrified when a waitress told her the outfit violated the restaurant's "no shirt, no shoes" dress code, saying: "I'm sorry, you can't be here in this shirt."
Charisha Gobin was denied service at the Buzz Inn Steakhouse in Marysville, Washington, on Sunday night by staff who said this outfit violated its health code. Photo / Facebook
After being denied service, Gobin took to social media to complain, sharing a photograph of her outfit with her outraged post, the MailOnline reported.
'I was just denied service at the Buzz Inn on State Avenue in Marysville for my outfit. I'm violating the health code,' she wrote alongside the photograph.
Hundreds of people jumped to her defense and slammed the restaurant and its staff.
"Absolutely ridiculous! 'You're violating the health code.' But some chick can go in with booty shorts and be just fine. Bulls***!" said one friend.
"Do they know how hot it is outside and how pregnant u are?" another said. Temperatures soared to 30C in Marysville on Sunday.
Gobin later said she felt as though she was being punished for being pregnant.
"Just because my belly was bigger and sticking out. But had it been anyone else, I don't think there would've been any problem whatsoever.
Charisha (left with her daughter) said she felt as though she was being punished for being pregnant. Photo / Kiro 7
"I was wearing a shirt, it had sleeves. I didn't even have any cleavage showing.
"It's pretty ridiculous I was shamed in the first place and had to drive across town to eat. I was livid," she told Kiro 7 in Washington.
But others sided with the waitress, claiming she was right to demand that Gobin cover her midriff whether she was pregnant or not.
"You were right to refuse this woman service!! Pregnancy is a beautiful thing but exposing yourself this way in public, especially in a restaurant is just so completely and totally inappropriate!" said one Facebook user.
Another said the restaurant had "no reason to apologise".
"I was pregnant and lived in an area where it was 45C on the daily. I still covered up and dressed appropriately when going out. She's gets no sympathy from me."
Others said: "While at a restaurant I don't want see anyone's belly, man or woman, pregnant or not. Just put it away, you aren't at home, you're in public."
Buzz Inn Steakhouse apologised for the incident and said the waitress responsible, who has worked there for 20 years, was trying to use her best judgment.
The waitress has been working at the restaurant for 20 years. Its ban on customers dining there while wearing no shoes or shirt is part of its food safety policy. Photo / Google
"We sincerely apologise for the misunderstanding and will cover with all staff as to how to not overly enforce a rule that is intended to make all guests feel comfortable.
"The server in question has been with our company and a great employee for almost 20 years and was trying to use her best judgement and by no means was trying to be demeaning to the guest.
"Again our sincere apology for misunderstanding," the restaurant said in a statement.
