A recent dining experience at Sampino's Kitchen in Sacramento, California, turned sour when a customer, Lindsay Lahargoue, discovered a security camera positioned under the bar, raising concerns about potential privacy violations. Lahargoue expressed her discomfort to CBS News, stating the camera's placement seemed intentionally concealed and could potentially film up women's skirts.

Upon discovering the camera, Lahargoue questioned the bartender, who claimed unawareness and alerted the restaurant's owner. The ensuing conversation allegedly became hostile, resulting in Lahargoue and her husband being asked to leave the establishment.

Sampino’s Kitchen at Joe Marty’s in Sacramento (Google Maps)

The restaurant owners have since addressed the controversy, asserting the camera has been inactive since the pandemic. Gaby Sampino, a co-owner, explained in a Facebook post that the camera was initially installed during the pandemic to monitor a nearby crosswalk due to increased crime and break-ins while indoor dining was prohibited. Sampino claimed the camera was deactivated once indoor dining resumed and the monitor displaying the footage is located near the bar, with no active feed from the camera in question. They apologized for any distress caused, stating the oversight was unintentional.

A security camera at a Sacramento restaurant raised concerns. (Getty Images)

The restaurant's attorney, Dillon Fleming, refuted Lahargoue's claims in a statement to CBS News, emphasizing the camera's inactivity and stating this was confirmed by law enforcement and witnesses. However, Lahargoue remains skeptical, demanding proof that the camera's positioning could even capture street footage and expressing the emotional distress the incident caused her, particularly as a survivor of sexual assault.

The state Capitol in Sacramento, California (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

A police investigation confirmed the camera was not recording and had been inactive for at least 24 hours prior to the incident. Both Sampino's Kitchen and Fleming have not yet responded to requests for further comment.