Comedian James Corden contacted Keith McNally, proprietors of the famed New York restaurant Balthazar, and “apologized profusely.”
Mr McNally subsequently overturned his prior ban on Corden, stating, “I strongly believe in second chances.”
Mr McNally characterized the presenter of The Late Late Show as “a hugely gifted comedian, but a tiny cretin of a man”.
He stated that the first incidence occurred in June, when Corden ate at Balthazar and displayed a hair to the manager after his main course, implying that it was in his food.
Mr McNally observed that “although this is diabolical, it happens very occasionally in all restaurants.” He said Corden was unpleasant and told the manager: “Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all our drinks so far.”
According to the restaurant owner, a second run-in occurred in November. The apparent rudeness was caused by an omelette.
“Mr Corden’s wife ordered an egg yolk omelette with gruyere cheese and salad. A few minutes after they received the food, James called their server… and told her there was a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk,” Mr McNally wrote on Instagram.
The dish was replicated by Balthazar’s employees, but it was “unfortunately supplied with home fries instead of salad,” he said.
“That’s when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: “You can’t do your job! You can’t do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!”
Mr McNally characterized the comic as “the most abusive customer” since the establishment’s inception 25 years ago.
The row appears resolved from the restaurant’s side, with Mr McNally saying: “Anyone magnanimous enough to apologize to a deadbeat layabout like me (and my staff) doesn’t deserve to be banned from anywhere. Especially Balthazar.”