Culinary Class Wars Judge’s Restaurant Apologises After Diner Alleges Wine Switch

South Korean chef Ahn Sung Jae, who rose to fame as a judge on Netflix reality cooking competition Culinary Class Wars, is facing controversy after a customer alleged that his fine-dining restaurant, Mosu Seoul, switched wines.

The Michelin-starred restaurant has since issued a formal apology following the incident.

According to the diner, who shared their experience online, they opted for the wine pairing.

The menu listed a Chateau Leoville Barton Saint-Julien 2000 vintage, but the sommelier allegedly served a 2005 vintage instead.  

While the discrepancy initially went unnoticed, the customer later picked up differences in aroma and taste and asked staff to verify.

The sommelier initially explained that “the 2000 bottle was stored elsewhere.” Only after the customer requested to take a photo did the staff bring out a bottle labelled 2000.

This led the customer to question whether the restaurant had first served the 2005 wine and then simply replaced it with a 2000 bottle. The price difference between the two vintages is said to be around 100,000 won (S$86).

However, the diner said the bigger issue was how the situation was handled.

Instead of a clear apology, they were offered a chance to taste the 2000 vintage, a response they described as “hard to understand” for a restaurant of such calibre.

Mosu is known for its high-end dining experience, with meals priced at around 420,000 won (S$363) per person. Bills for two can reportedly exceed 1,000,000 won (S$863) with wine pairing.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the restaurant apologised for the incident, saying that during service on April 19, they “failed to provide accurate information” and did not offer sufficient explanation afterward, leading to the guest’s disappointment.

The team added that they have since apologised directly to the diner, who accepted it, but acknowledged their initial response fell short of expectations.

“Chef Ahn Sung Jae and the entire Mosu team take this matter very seriously,” the statement read. “We will thoroughly review our service procedures and take steps to prevent recurrence.”

The restaurant also stressed that it will not stop at a “superficial apology”, and aims to rebuild trust with diners moving forward.

Photos: Netflix, Foodle.pro