Black Texas woman allegedly turned away from restaurant over dress code. Then she claims she saw what white patrons were wearing: ‘same exact’

A Black Texas woman says a Dallas restaurant turned her and a friend away from their reservation because of their outfits. She questions whether the restaurant applied its dress code policy consistently. She alleged that she saw white women inside wearing what she described as the “exact same” outfit.

TikTok creator Sydney Monet (@sydneymonett) described the experience in a September 2026 video after visiting the newly opened JOEY Maple restaurant in Uptown Dallas. “I have never been treated like this before in my life,” Monet said.

In her post, Monet called the experience “extremely rude” and “extremely unprofessional.” Monet then alleged, “It was a very targeted experience,” because she said that only Black people were not seated.

She alleged the restaurant treated white patrons differently

According to Monet, she then noticed white patrons entering the restaurant in clothing she believed was similar to what she and her friend were wearing. “People are coming in with the same exact outfits as us that are white, but they can sit down at their reservation,” she said.

Monet later added context in a TikTok comment. According to Monet, restaurant staff told Monet and her friend separately that their attire did not meet the restaurant’s attire standards.

She said she arrived first for the reservation. She said staff told her that her outfit did not meet the restaurant’s standards.

Then staff asked her to leave. Monet said her friend arrived later, and they gave her the same explanation.

While the two waited for their friends to arrive so they could leave, Monet said she saw women dining at the restaurant. She described the outfit as a black tank top and white shorts. “So yes, that is why I was frustrated,” she wrote in the comment.

Monet showed video footage of her post of what she and her friend were wearing. She did not provide visual evidence of the other guests.

JOEY Maple’s website says the restaurant requires smart-casual attire. Its published standards say the restaurant does not allow athletic wear, beachwear, or overly revealing clothing. The restaurant also says admission is at the discretion of its hosts and management, who can refuse service to patrons they consider unsuitably dressed.

Restaurant worker disputes racial-profiling claim

A person identifying themselves as a sous chef at JOEY Maple responded to Monet’s post. The commenter said they are Black and argued that Monet’s clothing violated the restaurant’s published dress code. They denied that racial profiling occurred.

Monet’s post is one of several recent viral TikTok posts alleging racism. In Pennsylvania, a Black man alleged that security guards detained him inside a building where he owned a business and for which he had a security badge.

The debate among commenters on Monet’s post about whether JOEY Maple enforced its posted dress code or unfairly targeted Black customers echoes viral controversies involving nail salons. Some salons have responded by requiring prepayment, saying the policy addresses concerns about customers receiving services without paying.

At least one Alabama woman, however, recently shared that she felt racially targeted. She said a nail salon asked her to prepay and refused service when she didn’t. She said she saw white customers treated differently.

The restaurant opened at 2508 Maple Ave. in Uptown Dallas on Sept. 10, according to JOEY Restaurants. We Got This Covered reached out to Monet and JOEY Maple for comment and will update this story if either responds.