HOUSTON – A River Oaks-area restaurant is pushing back after a viral video showed a group of women claiming they were denied entry because of the restaurant’s dress code.
In the video, posted by Instagram user @Roszzemary, the women say their reservation at Cocody was not honored because their dresses were “too short” and one guest was “showing her shoulders.”
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“They are not letting us in because of what we’re wearing,” one woman says.
The video shows the women’s outfits, then pans to a group of women who appear to be leaving the restaurant in similar attire.
KPRC 2 requested comment from Cocody.
In a statement, the restaurant said it is “aware of the video circulating on social media regarding our dress code policy” and said it is committed to treating every guest “with respect and professionalism.”
The restaurant said its dress code is part of the dining experience and that it “consistently” enforces the policy. Cocody also said the video “does not reflect the full context of the interaction and is incomplete and misleading.”
One of the women featured in the video said restaurants can set dress standards, but they should be applied consistently.
“We had a reservation at nine o’clock, and for us to get there and for them to say you can’t come in because of what you’re wearing when, right in front of our eyes, we saw other people coming in and out of the restaurant wearing similar clothing that we were reprimanded over,” she said.
KPRC 2 also received messages from other customers who said they had negative experiences at the restaurant.
One customer, Sheree K., said she and her husband were part of a party of six couples with a reservation who were initially told they could not be seated “without any explanation,” despite showing a reservation confirmation. She said the group was later seated at the bar for about 30 minutes before being taken to a table, and she described the service as disorganized.
Sheree K. also said ketchup was spilled on her back and her husband’s jacket during the meal and that staff did not assist or acknowledge the incident. She said the jacket was stained and ruined.
Other social media users defended Cocody, including one commenter who described the restaurant as “upscale” and said customers should “dress appropriately.”
“Cocody is a respected and reputable restaurant (owned by a respectful African couple) in the River Oaks areas. Very upscale if I may add. They have wonderful service and very tasty options on their menu. Make your reservations, dress appropriately and enjoy the amazing food and ambiance,” @smooveoperatorr said in a post.
Cocody’s dress code posted online says it requires “smart wear, business casual, or professional attire.” The policy states that athletic wear, sleepwear, slippers, “excessively revealing clothing,” or exposed undergarments are not permitted. The restaurant says management reserves the right to decline entry to guests who do not meet the requirements.
Cocody said it will continue enforcing its dress code, while the women in the video say the issue is whether those rules are applied consistently to all guests.