Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association kicks out Nomad boss after alleged anti-Semitic slur
The boss of Nomad restaurant group has apologised after he was charged with holding up a Nazi symbol at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney, as the costly fallout for the restaurant group continues.
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Australian restaurateur Alan Yazbek has issued an apology after he was charged with displaying the Nazi symbol during a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney.
Al Yazbek, who owns Nomad Sydney, Nomad Melbourne and Reine & La Rue on Friday apologised “unequivocally” for his actions at the demonstration on Sunday.
It comes as Nine Entertainment, the publisher of the Good Food Guide, said they could not recommend Yazbek’s Melbourne and Sydney restaurants.
They remained silent on Thursday but on Friday, told the Herald Sun: “After careful consideration Good Food Guide has decided to drop Nomad and Reine & La Rue from its Victorian and NSW Good Food Guides.
“We know this decision will affect the staff at these restaurants and that saddens us. But we feel in light of the recent news, we can’t recommend these venues to our readers.”
The annual guide last month dropped several venues owned by hospitality giants Swillhouse following seriously allegations of sexual assault.
The fallout for the Nomad restaurant group continues to spiral with a high-profile restaurant lobby group moving to kick it out of its association.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association, backed by hospitality heavyweights Chris Lucas and Neil Perry, told the Herald Sun it was moving to strip Nomad of its membership.
“There is no place in the hospitality industry for racism and anti-Semitism,” an ARCA spokesman said told the Herald Sun.
“The ARCA board has begun the process, per the ARCA constitution, to revoke Nomad’s membership.”
It comes after the co-owner of the popular Nomad Restaurant Group, Al Yazbek, held up a sign with a swastika during a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney at the weekend.
The sign appeared to compare Israel to the Nazis. He also allegedly appeared to hold up a flag printed with “our boys in green and gold will win”, with the colours the same as those used by Hezbollah.
Mr Yazbek has since been charged by police and is set to front court later this month.
Nomad Group operates the popular Nomad restaurant on Flinders Lane as well as the exclusive Reine & La Rue on Collins St.
It also operates a Nomad restaurant in Sydney.
Mr Yazbek’s actions has prompted a mass exodus of patrons, particularly among corporate Australia.
French champagne house G.H. Mumm has withdrawn its lucrative partnership with restaurant Reine & La Rue, the Herald Sun previously revealed.
Investment bank Goldman Sachs, law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, global financial services provider Morgan Stanley and Telstra have also canned bookings at the fine dining hotspot.
It is understood at least one senior chef has also resigned from Nomad, but the reason for the departure is not yet clear.
The Jewish landlady of Mr Yazbek’s Sydney venue previously said “anyone with a brain would be” offended by his actions at the Hyde Park rally.
The pair had previously been locked in a legal battle over rental prices of his swanky Nomad Sydney premises.
Nomad first opened in Sydney’s Surry Hills in 2013.
A second and third location was opened in Flinders Lane and on the corner of Queen and Collins St in Melbourne in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
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