James Corden banned from NY restaurant for 'abusing' staff

[Sarzy]

James Corden was banned from a New York restaurant following his alleged "abusive" treatment of staff.

Keith McNally, the manager of Balthazar, a French restaurant in SoHo, said that while Corden was a "hugely gifted comedian", he was also a "tiny cretin of a man".

In an Instagram post, he said that Corden was the "most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers" since the restaurant opened 25 years ago. 

"I don't often 86 a customer [an industry term for refusing to serve someone]... today I 86'd Corden. It did not make me laugh," he said.

He added that in June, Corden had been "extremely nasty" to one of the managers, while in another incident he yelled "like crazy" at a server because they had delivered an egg yolk omelette to his wife with some white still in it

One of the restaurant managers said that Corden had found a hair in his food, which while "diabolical... happens very occasionally in all restaurants". 

McNally wrote that Corden was "extremely nasty" to the manager, and said: "Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far". He also allegedly threatened to leave "nasty" reviews of the restaurant online.

Another manager reported that Corden had brunch at Balthazar on October 9, and his wife had ordered an egg yolk omelette with gruyère cheese and salad.

"A few minutes after they received the food, James called their server... and told her there was a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk," the manager wrote. 

"The kitchen remade the dish, but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad. That’s when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: 'You can’t do your job! You can’t do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!'"

The manager said he had given them champagne, after which "Corden was pleasant to him but nasty to the server".

On Monday night, McNally said that Corden had phoned him to apologise "profusely" following the post. He added that he "strongly" believed in second chances and that he would rescind the ban.

"So Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Corden, Jimmy Corden. All is Forgiven," he said. 

James Corden has been approached for comment.

www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/10/18/james-corden-banned-new-york-restaurant-abusing-staff/

[funky]

I really, really dislike him.

[tulip]

What a dick.

[brookie]

I just read on Facebook that the ban has been reversed.

[no1novice]

I imagine him having a micro-penis.


No excuse for this behaviour at all.

[czb]

'tiny cretin of a man'  

yeah his behavior was bad but i find it hard to believe this is the WORST they have ever seen ....

[notoriousmkg]

Oct 18, 2022 13:15:42 GMT brookie said:

I just read on Facebook that the ban has been reversed.

Boy, is THAT going to be an awkward first meal back....

[holly]

Why do some people feel the need to act like dicks to waitstaff (or anyone who they think is "below" them, really)? I never understood that. I always think, if any variable (or possibly several) had occurred in my life, I could be in a totally different position than I am right now. You just never know. Life can change in a split second.

What an asshole.

[trixie]

If the service and/or food (egg white in an egg yolk omelet, the horror! Who orders an egg yolk omelet anyway?) is so awful, why keep going back?

I've always said everyone should wait tables once in their life. I have, and trust me, I am never rude. And I'm a good tipper! Same with retail (I've done that too)

[coppercatseye]

Everything I’ve heard about this guy makes him sound like an asshole.

[no1novice]

Oct 18, 2022 14:54:20 GMT czb said:

'tiny cretin of a man'  

yeah his behavior was bad but i find it hard to believe this is the WORST they have ever seen ....

NYC baby!

Balthazar owner Keith McNally’s most savage feuds and social media moments

By Jake Garbar

October 18, 2022 | 2:22pm | Updated

Restaurateur Keith McNally has made headlines over the years with his savage social media call outs and online feuds.

Here’s a look back at McNally’s most memorable beefs over the years — from restaurant critic Adam Platt to his most recent clash with James Corden.
Keith-McNally-feuds_37

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Keith McNally has had his fair share of feuds over the years.




keithmcnallynyc/Instagram
Adam Platt

In 2010, New York Magazine critic Adam Platt wrote a scathing one-star review of McNally’s newest business endeavor at the time, Pulino’s Bar and Pizzeria.

In response to the review, McNally wrote a nasty letter in which he called Platt a “bald” and “overweight” reviewer who’s “incapable of reviewing lively downtown restaurants impartially.”


Adam Platt
The famed NYC restaurant fought with food critic Adam Platt in 2010.

Getty Images for New York Magazi

He added, “The fact is, you’re as out of touch describing young downtown New Yorkers as you are at understanding the restaurants where they like to eat.”

Platt shot back, “As always, in these cases, he is entitled to his opinion and I, as a bald, middle aged and, alas (slightly) overweight professional restaurant critic, am entitled to mine.”
Frank Bruni
Frank Bruni

McNally’s feud with Frank Bruni began back in 2007.
FilmMagic

The feud between the New York Times critic and McNally began back in 2007 when Frank Bruni awarded his newly opened restaurant, Morandi, a measly one star.

The NYC restaurateur fired back at Bruni, accusing the writer of being “sexist” because he’s never “given a female chef in Manhattan anything more than one star, ever.”

The drama continued in 2010 when the journalist was asked about McNally at a book reading. He called the restaurant owner a “horrible man” and stated that he no longer goes to his restaurants.
Graydon Carter
graydon carter standing in front of tables
McNally’s beef with Graydon Carter began in 2021.


Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan

In 2021, ex-editor of Vanity Fair Graydon Carter allegedly made a reservation for 12 at Morandi, but failed to show up.

The city dining mogul took to Instagram claiming that Carter had done this three times before, calling him a “fancy F–ker” and stating that he “will never be allowed to make a reservation at one of my restaurants again. Never.”

Carter, for his part, apologized for the Morandi snafu, but added McNally’s claims that it had happened multiple times was “pure fiction.”

“My office did forget to cancel the lunch reservation until a bit after 1:30, which is wretched, and we will be making a donation today to the restaurant’s tip pool to cover what the staff would have made. … As a fellow restaurateur, I fully understand the implications of a large party no-show,” he told Page Six at the time.

But, the feud was still going strong months later when Town & Country magazine reached out to McNally for a quote about what he wanted for the holidays.

“Graydon Carter’s head on a platter,” he responded.
Michael Shvo



Michael Shvo
McNally threatened to ban Michael Shvo from his restaurants in 2021.
Getty Images for The Raleigh Hot

In November 2021, McNally threatened to ban millionaire real estate developer Michael Shvo for allegedly walking past restaurant staff at Balthazar and seating himself at the famed eatery’s best table.

“How F. presumptuous! This obnoxious, entitled behavior is the Height of Arrogance,” McNally responded. “Please have Mr Shvo’s AA [always accommodate] status torn to shreds. If he ever Tries to seat himself again, he’ll join Graydon Carter on Balthazar’s 86 list.”

Shvo’s wife, Seren Shvo, responded to McNally’s claims, explaining that the pair had been eating brunch at the restaurant for years, always sitting at a booth. On that particular day, because it was cold and she had her baby, she walked in and stood by the only open booth.

“While I was standing, Michael went outside to find the maitre D to check in, but before he can, a lady came to (the) table, very politely greeted us, and said ‘happy you found your table Mr Shvo,’ welcome,'” she claimed.
Marina O’Loughlin

McNally started yet another feud in January 2022, this time with British restaurant critic Marina O’Loughlin.

Posting a photo of a newly opened restaurant in England, the restauranteur blasted the critic for dubbing the spot “restaurant of the year” even though it was only January.

“Does this restaurant REALLY look Life-Affirming? According to England’s Sunday Times restaurant critic, MARINA O’LOUGHLIN, it Does,” he wrote, adding that the place looked more “like a cafe in a nondenominational church.”
screenshot of a tweet by marina o'louglin
The restaurant critic accused McNally of serving “frozen frites” in his restaurants.

O’Loughlin fired back on social media, calling McNally a “has-been NYC restauranteur” who was “talking so far out of his arse.”

“ach, go away. With your sad obsession with me, your rag-rolled walls and overpriced Cafe Rouges, frozen frites and desperate staff morale, you’re the last person I’d listen to about restaurants,” she wrote.
James Corden

McNally called out James Corden in October 2022 for being the “most abusive” customer he’s had since NYC hotspot Balthazar opened 25 years ago.

The restaurant owner took to Instagram calling the comedian a “tiny Cretin of a man” for allegedly demanding freebies and threatening to leave a bad Yelp review after finding a hair in his food earlier this year.
james corden standing on a red carpet
James Corden was recently banned and unbanned from Balthazar for being “abusive” to staff.
Getty Images

McNally also claimed that during an Oct. 9 brunch at his restaurant Cafe Luxembourg, Corden went berserk after his wife’s eggs were not cooked to her liking.
What do you think? Be the first to comment.

After publicly announcing that the actor was “86’d” from his restaurants, McNally provided an update that the ban had been lifted.

“James Corden just called me and apologized profusely. Having f–ked up myself more than most people, I strongly believe in second chances,” the NYC restaurateur posted to Instagram.

“But….anyone magnanimous enough to apologize to a deadbeat layabout like me (and my staff) doesn’t deserve to be banned from anywhere. Especially Balthazar.”

[sputnik]

how people treat waitstaff at restaurants or hotel staff, etc., anyone in the service industry, when inconvenienced, is a pretty foolproof way to judge someone's character and basic decency.

[no]

I fucking hate this dude and his giant head and fake niceness. and I hate even more that my roommate tolerates him enough to watch his show every now and again, like holy shit get some better taste omg.

and carpool karaoke sucks. we know you think you can sing. we know.

[chalet]

I surely wouldn't forgive him because an I'm sorry doesn't cover all he said.  I don't know anything about McNally except he's one of the long established NY restaurant owners, like Danny Meyer and David Chang.  Sounds like a drama guy as well but sure as hell knows how to do restaurants.   Don't believe what you've seen on TV about Balthazar.  It's lively, delicious food and the staff is lovely. A very fun bar too.  I practically lived at McNally's restaurants in the 90's, Lucky Strike (closed) and Cafe Luxembourg (the nicest brunch). He's got the French bistro/brasserie thing down where you always feel comfortable.  Very hangout-y restaurants. I wish I had the time to hang out in a restaurant for four hours the way we used to.

I'm surprised we weren't thrown out of Balthazar when I took Mom for Mother's Day. Monica Lewinsky was with her family the day after she was on Saturday Night Live.  When I whispered to Mom that Monica was in a booth, my near sighted mother stands up and says "where's Monica"? Ma, SIT DOWN!

I heard Corden bully his viewers into not saying a word about Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery which was rude. I liked Adele and Sir Paul's caraoke's. He's done, bye.

[kittylady]

The stories about James Corden being an absolute twat to ordinary people and his own wife are endless and the only thing that surprises me is that his PR people have managed to keep so many of them out of the press for so long. His AMA on Reddit is the stuff of legend because of the tsunami of piss taking and hatred he received. James Corden - Ask Me Anything