Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha said he is taking a hard pass on dining in the nude after a Florida steakhouse began offering customers the chance to enjoy a five-course meal without their clothes.
“I hope people aren’t sitting on the chairs completely naked. I hope there’s some sort of, you know, padding between the actual seating and, you know, whatever skin may be hitting there,” Concha said on Fox News’s Jesse Watters Primetime Thursday.
CLASS Soirée Steakhouse in Hollywood, Florida, hosts its “Nude Dining Experience” on the first Monday of every month. The event includes a five-course meal, champagne toast, and a social dining atmosphere for guests who choose to dine nude. Tickets cost $150 for women, $250 for men, or $300 for couples.
Concha poked fun at the concept, questioning how exactly diners are expected to navigate the usual experience at CLASS Soirée Steakhouse.
“All right, fine. That should be noted that the restaurant windows are blacked out for privacy,” Concha said. “I don’t know, how exactly does this work? I mean, do you drive to the place, park, and walk in naked? Or do you strip right down at the table?”
Chef and owner Murand Ali told the Washington Examiner he came up with the idea after a group requested to host a private nude.
“We said okay because it was legal, and then I came up with the idea about, you know there’s millions of people that travel to South Florida, who are part of this community,” Ali said. “I wanted to make a place for them to come and have a really nice meal as comfortable as they like to be.”
Ali said the small steakhouse has specialized in private parties since the restaurant opened seven years ago and is run by a group of private chefs who “take care of full service.”
“There are no waiters, bartenders, or servers,” he said.
CLASS Soirée has hosted its “Nude Dining Experience” for three months, with the next event scheduled for Sept. 7. When asked about guest reactions, Ali told the Washington Examiner: “Customers are happy.” “It’s been rave reviews online; customers are happy, a couple of them are coming back, the food is good, the fact is, our restaurant is one of the highest-rated restaurants in Florida.”
“We’re a 4.8 on Google and 4.8 on OpenTable,” Ali added. “Our food and service has been good. Our concept has been unique. Now we’re officially cool.”
Concha, however, wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the concept.
“Unless that’s Ryan Gosling on a naked steak date with Sydney Sweeney next to me, I’ll happily go fully clothed to Arby’s. Thank you very much,” Concha said.