1 /5 Rianna Bishop: I am writing this review to document an experience of racial discrimination at Kushom Bugh.
My boyfriend and I, both Black, had a confirmed reservation for 8:00pm. We arrived a few minutes early and were left standing at the entrance. Multiple members of staff walked past us without acknowledgment, despite us clearly waiting to be seated.
At 8:10pm, a white couple arrived and were immediately greeted and seated at the last remaining table, while we were still being ignored. Only after we challenged this did staff engage with us.
We were then given an explanation that the couple had a 7:30pm reservation and had “called ahead to say they would be 10 minutes late.” This explanation does not make sense. They arrived at 8:10pm — 40 minutes after their supposed reservation time — not 10 minutes. This appeared to be a dishonest attempt to justify why they were prioritised over us.
The contrast in treatment was obvious and deeply upsetting. As Black customers, we were ignored, left standing, and deprioritised, while white customers arriving later were immediately welcomed and seated. This is not subtle bias — it is discriminatory behaviour.
Regardless of intent, the impact was racism. We were made to feel unwelcome, disrespected, and less worthy of basic service. This experience was humiliating and unacceptable.
We did not feel safe or valued as customers and will not be returning. I am sharing this publicly so others — particularly people of colour — are aware of how they may be treated here.
Management should take this seriously and address how such blatant racial bias was allowed to occur.
