The website for Death Row Dinners before they went offline. Photo / Death Row Dinners
The website for Death Row Dinners before they went offline. Photo / Death Row Dinners
A storm in a Mason jar was brewing in Dalston over the weekend as news spread of a new pop-up restaurant inspired by the last requests of death row inmates and allowing diners to "enjoy the idea of a last meal, without the nasty execution bit."
Part of me thought 'yes, this is a little short-sighted, the death penalty still exists today and isn't something to be trivialised by some gourmet riff on a grilled cheese,' the other part thought 'oh god not the outrage klaxon again and this is probably just run by two 17-year-olds who didn't think it through properly let's not publically/Twitterly lynch them for it' (though that would be deliciously ironic).
Either way, the yet to open restaurant's owners, shrouded in mystery (perhaps to save themselves), have now issued a statement:
"We're shocked and saddened by the response to Death Row Dinners and are genuinely very sorry for any offence caused. The pop up is intended to explore the concept of last meals; anyone who has ever been to a dinner party has probably had this conversation - what would they love their last meal to be.
"In light of the response to the idea we are considering our next steps and will update everyone with our decision."
It seems unlikely the pop-up will ever open its doors now it's been considered in bad taste (har har) by the masses, unless a rival outfit can siphon off some outrage by opening a bar in Peckham that makes mojitos out of the tears of orphans.
