Gay couple refused shared dessert by waiter because it would 'ruin the ambience'

The couple posted about their outrage on Facebook

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A gay couple say there were told by a waiter that they could not share a dessert in a restaurant because it “doesn’t go with the ambience”.

The Prime Rib restaurant in Washington DC describes itself as one of the most romantic restaurants in America – but for one couple, the sensual treat of sharing their dessert was off the table.

Ron Gage, 55, and his partner Henry McKinnon, 58, ordered a sundae with two spoons, but their server had other ideas.

Despite having cordial conversations with the waiter throughout the meal, the server insisted that it would be brought in two separate dishes.

The couple claimed the waiter said that it “wouldn’t look right with two gentlemen eating out of the same sundae. It doesn’t go with the ambiance of the restaurant”.

Mr Gage said he was speechless, too shocked to raise formal complaint at the time, and left a reduced gratuity.

Mr McKinnon said: “I’m kind of embarrassed to say we didn’t say anything. It just took us back to such a shameful place, in a way.”

Still angry the next day, they left a negative Yelp review, and posted about their experience on Facebook.

General manager James MacLeod told The Washington Post that he’s trying to piece together the situation.

He told the paper that the waiter is a Bulgarian who speaks four different languages, and that there may have been some confusion over what he was trying to say.

The restaurant, situated a short walk away from the White House, is ranked with four out of five stars according to Google reviews.

However, the score seems to have been dragged down by a number of outraged people who’ve given it one-star as a result of the alleged experience of Mr Gage and Mr McKinnon.