Paris Restaurant Owner Says He Faced Backlash After Adding Halal Meat to Menu

Paris Restaurant Owner Says He Faced Backlash After Adding Halal Meat to Menu
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A Paris restaurant owner says he has faced an online backlash and what he described as an “Islamophobic campaign” after introducing halal meat options at his establishment in response to customer demand.

Christophe Soret, owner of the Beef Steakhouse restaurant in Paris’s Marais district, told French media that he decided to add halal meat to the menu to meet the expectations of part of his clientele and expand his business. Around 30 percent of the restaurant’s meat offerings are now halal.

The change, introduced in July, was reportedly welcomed by many customers. However, Soret said he later received thousands of reactions, including hostile messages and alleged threats, along with a wave of negative online reviews. He claimed that around 50 one-star Google reviews came from people who had never visited the restaurant.

The controversy intensified in August after influencer Elias, from the account “Paname a faim,” published a video about the restaurant. In response to criticism, Soret attempted to defuse tensions through humor, appearing in a Gaul costume and saying that his restaurant aimed to welcome “everyone” while rejecting racism.

The restaurateur said the decision was also influenced by supplier demand and claimed that offering halal options helped attract new customers. He reported a 30 percent increase in attendance since the change.