Can you bring a birthday cake to a restaurant? Viral pizzeria dispute reveals the rules

A viral confrontation at a New Jersey pizzeria over a child's birthday cake has put a spotlight on the unwritten rules surrounding outside food at restaurants — and what both diners and restaurant operators should do when those rules collide.The controversy began after a family celebrating a 5-year-old's birthday at Joey Tomato's in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, brought a cake into the restaurant and later asked for a knife to cut it.Family members said they had called ahead and received permission, while the owner said Joey Tomato's has a policy prohibiting outside desserts.A heated exchange with owner Doreen Sullivan-Karcich was captured on video, prompting Joey Tomato's to defend its position and argue that the viral footage lacked the context of what happened beforehand.RESTAURANT OWNERS REVEAL THE BIGGEST MISTAKE DINERS MAKE BEFORE ORDERING"We are a pizza restaurant.

Not a party venue, not a bakery, not a rental hall," Joey Tomato's said in a social media post responding to the controversy.The pizzeria said it has policies governing outside food for reasons including "food safety, liability" and keeping operations running smoothly.Joey Tomato's also pushed back against criticism of its stance.A pizzeria recently went viral after customers celebrated a child's birthday with a cake that they brought to the restaurant, angering the owner.

(iStock)"These policies aren't up for public vote just because one moment enforcing them got recorded," Joey Tomato's said, while adding in jest that it was considering a new tagline: "We don't do cake.We do pizza."So, what is the proper etiquette?"In terms of someone bringing in food from another restaurant or even from home, it's always best to ask in advance," according to etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, owner of the Protocol School of Texas in San Antonio.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWSRestaurants that allow outside cakes may charge a cutting fee, Gottsman noted.Some restaurants will charge a cake-cutting fee for...