FLORISSANT, Mo. — Two weeks ago, 36-year-old Marvin Pate and his wife opened their new, upscale restaurant in north St. Louis County.
Bliss Restaurant is located at 11836 West Florissant Ave., near New Halls Ferry Road in Florissant.
"I think Bliss is a home away from home. You can come here and actually feel like you're at a resort. People will feel like they're on a vacation," Pate said.
"We offer delicious oxtails, fresh snapper, jerk lambchops, wonderful cabbage, fresh snapper and more. All of it is delicious and Jamaican-style," Chef Alex Dixon said.
All of the restaurant's chefs are actually from Jamaica.
The restaurant's popular West African and Caribbean cuisine isn't the only hot topic simmering on social media. People are chattering about the age restrictions at Bliss.
Women must be at least 30 years old and men must be 35 to enter the business.
"The restaurant is just something for the older people to come do, have a happy hour, come get some good food and not have to worry about some of the young folks who bring some of that drama," Assistant Manager Erica Rhodes said.
"Of course, we have been getting a little backlash because of our policy, but that's OK, we're sticking to our code," Pate said.
Customers who appear to be younger than 30 will have to show their ID to a hostess at the front door or a St. Louis County police officer after 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
"He has a policy that suits the clientele that he's trying to draw in, and me being 65, I think he's on the right track," said Fernando Smith, a patron who visited the restaurant on Wednesday.
"I would tell those younger ones to come patronize the business once you turn 30 or 35 because we're going to be here for a while," Rhodes said.
Pate also said in about two weeks, they will offer to-go orders.
He also said overall, the feedback about their age restrictions has been positive.
The restaurant is open from 4 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.