A South Island restaurant owner is in hot water after criticising a family's BYO birthday cake on social media.
The post by Riverstone Kitchen owner Bevan Smith on the restaurant's Instagram and Facebook pages made fun of the cake brought by a family celebrating their mother's birthday.
The post included a photograph of the cake with the caption: "The reason why we don't allow BYO cakes #riverstonekitchen #bless #wtf #cakeboss #they tried really?"
The original post was quickly taken down and an apology was issued by Mr Smith. He told Newshub his thoughts were with the family.
"Look, it was a mistake and we've received a tremendous amount of negative feedback about it. I take full responsibility, but it's really been blown out of proportion. I didn't post any names or people or anything," said Mr Smith.
"I took down the post very quickly and called the family to apologise and they have accepted my apology."
The Riverstone Kitchen Facebook has since been taken down. Mr Smith said he did so for his staff's safety after receiving threats.
"People have their rights to have opinions, but most of them don't even know us," said Mr Smith.
"[People on social media] don't get it; they get all wound up in emotion."
A family member, who did not want to be named, told Newshub he and his family had driven from Timaru to the restaurant in Oamaru specifically for the occasion.
He said they had brought the birthday cake because they were unaware of the restaurant's no BYO cake policy.
"The lady serving us was really weird about it when we turned up and said she would ask her boss. I said not to worry and just to put it out the back until we left and that's what we did. We didn't even eat it there," said the family member.
He said he wasn't aware of the post until the following morning.
"I was pretty shocked and disappointed when I saw it and commented because I was hacked off."
He said the family had accepted Mr Smith's apology but won't be returning to the restaurant again, despite enjoying it in the past.
"I'm just annoyed it happened full-stop. I think it was a pretty embarrassing thing to do.
"He [Mr Smith] said it wasn't intended to embarrass but that's complete rubbish," said the family member, referring to the language used in the post.
Mr Smith said the post was a spur-of-the-moment decision in response to a "bug-bear" that he had about people bringing their own food.
"It starts an awkward moment. We're trying to be a professional, high-quality establishment. We have our own cakes people can purchase."
He said cakes were a grey area for some people because of the emotional energy involved in making them.
Despite what happened Mr Smith, said the restaurant's no BYO cake policy would remain.
"You don't go into a bar expecting to bring your own drinks; a restaurant's the same for me. A cake is still food."
Mr Smith said he expects there will be implications for his business but that he is prepared to pay the consequences of his actions.
"I'm sure there will be repercussions but that's not my main concern.
"All we can do is learn from it and come back to work the next day and keep going."
Newshub.
