Gordon Ramsay is being sued by current and former employees of his Hollywood restaurant for failing to pay minimum wages and pass on tips.
A class action filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday claims The Fat Cow, which is located in an upmarket shopping centre, paid below the Californian legal minimum of around £5 an hour.
It also alleges that the gastro-pub did not provide statutory meal breaks or overtime pay.
Although Ramsay created the menu of his 'favourite dishes', which include lobster mac & cheese and shepherd's pie, he was not responsible for the day- to-day running of the restaurant. A spokesman for the chef, who holds 11 Michelin stars, said: 'We are aware there was a problem with previous management, which has since been changed, but this is totally unacceptable if there is any truth to it.'
In February, Ramsay's contract for the restaurant in London's Claridge's hotel was not renewed, and he has also had to close restaurants in Prague, South Africa, Dubai, Qatar, Montreal and Melbourne.