A popular restaurant in Kolkata issued a statement Sunday seeking to de-escalate tensions following a controversy over a food-order mix-up that led to the arrest of one of its staff members.

The incident, which occurred on the evening of January 30, gained widespread attention online after Kolkata-based vlogger Sayak Chakraborty posted a video alleging that he and his companions were served beef despite having ordered mutton at the iconic restaurant.

Olypub, the 80-year-old establishment, described the incident as an “unintentional error” and a “genuine mistake with no harm intended.”

“We are truly sorry for his mistake and apologize profusely for inadvertently hurting our customers’ sentiments. Olypub is built on a foundation of respect for all—irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or gender,” the statement read.

The management expressed gratitude for the “immense support” received from well-wishers and renewed their commitment to treating all patrons with dignity, focusing on their long-standing legacy in the city’s culinary landscape.

On Friday night, Chakraborty and his fellow creators, Ananya Guha and Sukanta Kundu, claimed they realised they had eaten beef only after a second plate of mutton steak arrived at their table.

The vlogger’s video, which showed him confronting a waiter and the restaurant manager, alleged a “deliberate attempt” to hurt his religious sentiments. While the video captured the waiter and manager offering apologies on-site, the situation escalated.

On the same day, a complaint was filed at Park Street police station, and the Kolkata police arrested the waiter involved in the incident.

The incident sparked a heated debate across social media platforms. While some netizens supported Chakraborty’s right to receive what he ordered, others rallied behind the restaurant, viewing the error as a common service lapse being disproportionately targeted.