Vancouver man alleges assault by downtown restaurant staff; Steakhouse denies claim

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A man from Vancouver says he was pushed, thrown to the ground and kicked inside a high-end downtown restaurant because he didn’t want to pay for what he calls a “lacklustre” experience.

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse denies the claims brought forward by Stephen Cartmel, who says the altercation with staff happened last Thursday when he and a friend were out for dinner at the restaurant.

2/2 “…Kobe will defend any legal action brought by Mr. Cartmel and is confident that it will be dismissed.” -Kristina A. Davies, legal counsel for @KobeVancity

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) August 10, 2020

He says he brought his concerns with the service to the restaurant’s staff as soon as he had a problem, noting he thought the food was not very good and the service was slow.

“You’re paying for the food but also for the experience in my mind,” he says.

“I said the experience here is pretty lacklustre. I’m left hungry, staring at my food, begging for my food to be cooked and it’s not being done.”

Cartmel says the employee he spoke to offered to provide a free drink, but wouldn’t offer a discount on the food, according to Cartmel.

“I’m sorry that’s not how this works that’s ridiculous. So I said like you can issue the bill or whatever and we’ll figure things out. He wanders off and comes back with the bill with absolutely everything on it, he didn’t even bother comping the drink that he said he would,” Cartmel says.

Then he told the staff he would not be paying for his meal.

That’s when he says staff told him he was stealing, and that they would call police.

“I wish they had arrived because then this never would have happened,” he says.

Once downstairs, he alleges two employees locked the door, preventing him from leaving.

“I was like, ‘You can’t lock the door and keep me in here, this is forcible confinement or something. I didn’t assault the person, I didn’t hurt him, I didn’t touch him.”

He tried to get around the man who was between him and the door so he could leave.

“They started pushing me back in and pulling me, I was like hanging on to the door. They were hauling me back off the door. They threw me on the ground,” Cartmel says.

“I know I didn’t get punched but I think I got kicked a little bit and thrown around.”

Ultimately, Cartmel’s friend paid the entire bill and the pair left.

.@KobeVancity staff accused of assaulting #Vancouver man who claims he has bruises because he was blocked from leaving and pushed to the ground after having what he calls a “lacklustre” dining experience.
Stephen Cartmel tells @NEWS1130 next time, he’ll just call 911. pic.twitter.com/GwlvhKMka1

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) August 6, 2020

After making his way outside, Cartmel says he called the police several times but no officers were dispatched.

The Vancouver Police Department has confirmed they are investigating a complaint made by Cartmel.

“I want charges pressed. When people assault people charges should be pressed,” Cartmel says, adding he is confident if CCTV footage is available it will corroborate his description of events.

Cartmel went to a nearby hospital to have his injuries examined.

A medical report he provided to NEWS 1130 notes “multiple contusions and abrasions” including on his torso, shin, hand, and wrist.

While the investigation is ongoing, Cartmel says he has retained a lawyer and intends to pursue legal action.

In a statement provided to NEWS 1130 by the restaurant’s legal counsel, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse says it “strongly denies the version of events told by Mr. Cartmel and in particular that he was assaulted by restaurant staff.

“Kobe will defend any legal action brought by Mr. Cartmel and is confident that it will be dismissed,” the statement adds.

In the meantime, Cartmel says he just wants people to know what went on.

“This kind of thing should not happen to me and it should not happen to anybody else in the future. It’s wrong.”