A well-known Aussie animal rights activist has locked horns with a celebrity chef after a Perth restaurant said it would deny entry to vegans.
John Mountain, head chef and owner at Fyre Restaurant in the city's northern suburbs, announced on social media that all vegans "are now banned from Fyre for mental health reasons".
Upon hearing the news, prominent vegan advocate Tash Peterson told 7News the ban was a form of "discrimination".
She then ripped into Mountain, saying he was "obviously quite triggered by veganism".
"I don't see it any different to banning Muslims or women from a restaurant," said Peterson.
The beef began when an unnamed vegan customer was served an expensive "bowl of vegetables" after she requested a vegan meal ahead of time.
The chef and owner, Mountain, obliged - but he wasn't working when the woman dined, and the message wasn't passed on.
"My only option was the vegetable dish," said the woman's complaint via private message to the venue.
"It was okay but not that filling... and I was shocked to see it was [AU]$32."
She added the lack of plant-based meals showcased the chef's shortcomings.
"If you don't get with the times, I don't hold out faith that your restaurant will be the one that does."
But Mountain snapped back: "Please feel free to share your shitty experience and I look forward to not seeing you again.
"You and all your vegan mates can all go and enjoy your dishes in another venue. You are now banned."
Fyre Restaurant was subsequently inundated with negative reviews on Google, but that listing has since been removed.
It also received several glowing reviews on its Facebook page - which is still active.
One reviewer said: "Excellent food, service and atmosphere. It's a real pity some people think it's okay to defame the owner with libellous comments online."
Mountain admitted to 7News that parts of the woman's complaint were valid.
"Look, I said I would accommodate her, and I didn't."
Now, he's considering taking the complainant to court.
"F**k vegans," he said. "At the end of the day, it's not what I want to do, they can f**k off."
Fyre Restaurant, located in Connolly in Perth's northern suburbs, has a rating on Facebook of 4.4 stars.
The ban was announced across Fyre Restaurant's social media on Monday.
Tash Peterson is well-known in Perth for her animal rights activism and promotion of veganism.
