The customer claimed that he was targeted with the five-point star, which was not the well-known Jewish symbol, because of where he is from
August 1, 2025 09:30
A restaurant in Belfast has apologised after a customer was handed a dish featuring what he claimed was an image of a Star of David.
The man, who is originally from Lebanon, claimed that he was targeted by staff due to his national origin.
He alleged that he mentioned his place of birth in passing while talking to chefs at Cosmo, an all-you-can-eat buffet in the city.
Following this conversation, he told BelfastLive, a mussel dish he ordered from the buffet came back with “sauce in the shape of a Star of David” on the plate.
An image shared by the customer with BelfastLive showed that the star on the plate was not a Star of David, having only five points compared to the Jewish symbol’s six.
Nonetheless, the man’s partner claimed: “I enquired with Cosmo if it is normal for the mussels to be presented with a shape drawn in sauce like this and they said that it was not and they have not given a reasonable explanation as to why my partner received his plate like this.
"The only reason we can see for this happening is because of my partner being from Lebanon and the chef had asked him, before this took place, where he was from. We feel they have tried to try a Star of David on the plate as a way of having a go at him with everything going on and the genocide.”
Despite the fact that the shape was not, as claimed, a Star of David, the restaurant has apologised for “any offence or discomfort this caused”.
A spokesperson said: “We pride ourselves on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for every guest who walks through our doors.
"During a recent dining experience, our teppanyaki chef drew a shape on a guest’s plate, meant to be a gesture of goodwill and warmth.
"The intention behind this was simply to create a pleasant and personal touch to the dining experience, much like drawing a heart, a circle, or any other friendly shape that would symbolise positivity and kindness.
"However, we understand that this gesture was perceived as something else, and we sincerely apologise for any offence or discomfort this caused. We acknowledge that the shape, though innocent in its intention, can hold deeper meanings for some, and we regret that this misunderstanding occurred.
"Please rest assured that our chef did not have any intention to offend, and the gesture was purely made in the spirit of hospitality.”
However, the partner added: “We feel like their apology is very half-hearted after the offence they have caused my partner and I, we have been very disappointed with their response to it all.”
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