Restaurants & Bars
Philly Eatery Sets $100 Minimum, And The Internet Doesn't Like It
Philly's Steak 48 has a spending minimum of $100 per diner and a strict dress code, drawing mockery and claims of racism on social media.
PHILADELPHIA — Two policies at a Center City Philadelphia restaurant have led to jokes and claims of racism on social media over the past several days.
Steak 48, at 260 S. Broad St., is the topic of much discussion after the eatery introduced two policies: a $100-per-person food and drink minimum and a strict dress code.
The restaurant — which has locations in Chicago, Houston and Charlotte — says "proper attire" is required. According to Steak 48, that means patrons cannot wear sweatpants, hooded sweatshirts, activewear (with some exceptions), revealing clothing, clothing with vulgar language or imagery, frayed or tattered clothing, and more.
Find out what's happening in Philadelphiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The full dress code is online here, but Steak 48 notes management can "change and/or update the dress code at any time," which opens the door for even those who meet the dress code to be denied service.
Additionally, the $100 minimum serves to "ensure that each guest enjoys the total experience of food, service, and atmosphere." Tax and tip are not included in the minimum.
Find out what's happening in Philadelphiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
And those two aspects have caused social media users to weigh in with jokes and claims of discrimination against people of color.
Steak 48 said $100 per person minimum but got a mac and cheese on the menu with "a touch of velveeta" in the description lmaoooooo pic.twitter.com/Ca8BgKH0Bu
— Recky (@reck1568) May 26, 2021
steak 48 just don’t want black ppl in there. then they got a dress code like huh
— amw. (@1amarieee) May 27, 2021
So, if Steak 48 is going to charge a minimum $100 per person, then does this mean they will be raising wages for the employees too?
— KT (@sloyoroll01973) May 26, 2021
Basically what Steak 48 is saying: pic.twitter.com/EqWzu4iizc
— Unproblematic Baby Father (@ReformedMike_) May 26, 2021
So... Philly’s Steak 48 requires each diner to spend $100 on food & drink before tax. Below is the menu. I could order: Shishito peppers ($10) Chopped salad (13) Steakhouse meatloaf (34) Fries (9) Sweet corn (9) Gelato (11) Grayson cab (12) That’s $98. Am I getting arrested? pic.twitter.com/sFnPJxdb3z
— Ed Greenberger (@EdGreenberger) May 26, 2021
Steak 48's new clientele pic.twitter.com/4QhYUxSYjn
— 1 New Notification (@Lee_Morgan7) May 26, 2021
Walking up to Steak 48 like: pic.twitter.com/mfUdwgLan2
— @Limon33 (@Limon33) May 26, 2021
How Steak 48 takes your order. pic.twitter.com/gQvw8XuFOx
— Nurrrrrrrrrd. (@Only_Tony_) May 26, 2021
Just a couple seeing if they have enough per person for those $100 Steak 48 dinners..... #Steak48 pic.twitter.com/Fq236Xzf6M
— TalentlessMedia (@TalentlessMedia) May 26, 2021
How steak 48 wants people to dress pic.twitter.com/0LlJxhCbwN
— Unproblematic Baby Father (@ReformedMike_) May 26, 2021
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
