A group of Black women have accused a Houston restaurant of denying them entry due to their outfits, sparking a viral TikTok video. The women claim that their reservation at Cocody Restaurant and Bar in River Oaks was not honoured because some of their dresses were deemed 'too short' and one had exposed shoulders.
The TikTok video, posted by user @roszzemary, shows the women wearing colourful, figure-hugging dresses for a birthday night out. The caption alleges that security guards did not apply the dress code consistently, as other diners wearing similar attire were allowed entry.
The video has garnered over 167,000 likes. In a follow-up post, the TikToker explained that the group had booked a table and witnessed other patrons entering in comparable outfits. The clip includes footage of those diners, who were also wearing short, figure-hugging dresses.
Cocody's spokesperson told Click2Houston that the restaurant is 'aware of the video' and 'consistently' enforces its dress code with 'respect and professionalism'. The spokesperson claimed the clip 'does not reflect the full context of the interaction and is incomplete and misleading'.
The restaurant's website describes its dress code as 'smart wear, business casual or professional attire', prohibiting 'athletic wear, sleepwear, slippers, excessively revealing clothing, or exposed undergarments'. Management reserves the right to decline entry to guests who do not meet these requirements.
