Beverly Hills restaurant invites guests to Prohibition-style New Year’s Eve party

'Please keep this discreet, but tell all your friends,’invitation reads

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

An Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles has been criticised for inviting guests to a prohibition-style New Year’s Eve party that would violate coronavirus restrictions.

News of the invitation emerged after a Los-Angeles based journalist shared a notice that the restaurant was leaving inside takeaway orders on social media.

“Welcome back to the 20’s Prohibition,” the note reads. "Speak Easy - New Year’s Eve Dinner. We are considering taking reservations for New Year’s Eve dinner. Inside.

"If this is something you’d be interested in, please let us know as soon as possible.

"If enough interest we’ll contact you back to secure a reservation.

“Please keep this discreet, but tell all your friends.”

On Christmas Day, journalist Alissa Walker shared a photograph of the notice alongisde the caption: “Merry Christmas everyone! La Scala’s Beverly Hills location is tucking these invitations to an indoor New Year’s Eve dinner in their takeout bags.”

Ms Walker’s tweet was widely shared and garnered more than 500 comments from people.

“La Scala should be delivering free meals to healthcare workers on New Year's Eve, not trying to bury them in more sick people,” replied one person.

“This would END a restaurant in New York City. Especially if we had LA’s ICU shortage. (I hope it ends this one, too.) Thanks for whistleblowing. It could save lives!” another added.

Keith Sterling, a spokesperson for the City of Beverly Hills, told The Daily Mail that the city had made “direct contact” with La Scala to “confirm the conditions of the County’s Health Order”.

“We understand this is an incredibly difficult time for all of our businesses, however the County Order does currently prohibit indoor and outdoor dining, including in the City of Beverly Hills,” they said.

Many celebrities have been photographed at La Scala, including Paul Newman, Cher, and Kourtney Kardashian.

The Independent has contacted La Scala for comment.