A Midwest restaurant is igniting conversation over its strict age policy.
On May 26, Bliss Restaurant, a recently-opened Caribbean restaurant in Florissant, Missouri announced a policy for its patronage that has since gone viral around the internet. The eatery, which like , and , revealed that it has age restrictions for entry: women must be 30 or over, and men must be 35 or older to dine.
“As a Black-owned business, Bliss Caribbean Restaurant is dedicated to providing North County with an upscale dining experience,” Bliss Restaurant on Facebook, adding that the restriction ensures a “grown and sexy atmosphere.”
The restaurant lists three reasons for the policy: that it creates a “mature and relaxed” atmosphere for its guests, that the restriction allows staff to focus on quality and that the policy “ensures our restaurant remains a premier destination for those seeking an upscale Caribbean dining experience.”
“This policy helps us maintain a sophisticated environment, uphold our standards, and support the sustainability of our unique ambiance,” Bliss wrote.
Bliss later added in a June 7 that its Friday happy hour is “strictly for the grown and sexy, so we’re keeping it classy—ladies 30 and up, fellas 35 and up.”
Representatives for Bliss Restaurant did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s requests for comment.
Still, assistant manager Erica Rhodes gave more insight into the eatery’s reasoning, .
“It’s just something for the older people to come to and have a happy hour, come get some good food and not have to worry about so many young folks that bring some of that drama,” Rhodes said.
Owner Marvin Pate also told the station, “Of course, we have been getting a little backlash, but that’s okay, because we sticking to our code.”
KDSK also noted that patrons who enter the restaurant will have to show their ID to a hostess or St. Louis County Police officer after 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
The Missouri hotspot’s age policy has spread around the internet, drawing conversation on TikTok as well as a post on the extremely popular Instagram account .
Pate says that reaction to the policy has been mostly positive, with comments on social media seemingly backing that up on many different platforms.
Grown folks only and no twerking on the tables. I support it
— cloudtechbigunk (@cloudtechbigunk)
“Grown folks only and no twerking on the tables. I support it,” one commenter on X.
“We need 10 of these in California,” one X user, and another , “Don’t we though. We need about 4 in Oakland alone, lol.”
“I respect this 👌👌👊💯💯,” wrote an Instagram commenter.
“Love this cuz not only it’s for the mature crowd but it makes you wanna go out again without the nonsense,” wrote a Facebook commenter, and another added, “I wouldn’t have minded if you said 40 & up.”
“Can you give us a chance to at least have a space for ourselves?” TikToker @nosybystanders said in her video on the topic. “It is far too seldom that adults have a place on the mainland where we can patronize it without a bunch of children around.”
Still, not everyone is copacetic about the age restrictions, taking to the internet to voice their opinions.
Age ≠ maturity (meaning it’s a lot of 30+ adults that still act childish or immature)
— bfromthesea (@bfromthesea)
“Age ≠ maturity (meaning it’s a lot of 30+ adults that still act childish or immature),” another X user, to which another , “Higher risk of younger people to be less mature.”
“They are very ANTI young adult, and even worse ANTI child. Their prices are high too,” one Facebook user.
“Them seats look like they came from someone granny house 🤣 now i get why it’s for old ppl,” one person on an image of the restaurant’s velour banquette seating.
Who gets to patronize upscale restaurants has been a hot-button topic for quite some time. In January, an Oklahoma mom after posting a rant about noisy kids in an upscale restaurant she attended. Also, back in September 2023, a restaurant drew criticism for because of ‘loud’ kids.
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