Man and Woman Switch Shirts to Be Allowed Into Restaurant, Sparking Dress Code Debate

Two friends thought they were just meeting up for dinner, but the restaurant they chose had other ideas for them. “So, there’s a restaurant that won’t allow him to wear sleeveless, but I can, so we’re switching,” influencer and brand ambassador Katie Novack says in a July 30 Instagram video while standing in an alleyway with her friend Mike Perfetuo. He’s shirtless, and they’re both giggling profusely. “I can’t believe we’re doing this,” she says, still wearing her original top: a long, puff-sleeved satin blouse with a horse pattern. The video then cuts to the pair after they’ve switched tops: Novack is in Perfetuo’s woven, sleeveless shirt, and Perfetuo is in the silky equine blouse. “He looks so good in my shirt, you guys,” Novack says with a giggle. In the comments, a few people recognized the restaurant in question as South Beverly Grill in Los Angeles, California. Neither South Beverly Grill nor its parent company, Hillstone Restaurant Group, responded to a request for comment from TODAY.com. On its website, South Beverly Grill encourages “smart casual attire” and describes its dress code under the “Reservations” tab. Is this restaurant’s dress code perfectly reasonable, or does it highlight a “double standard”? 🎥: thegetupmama/IG