Restaurant apologizes for accidentally hosting neo-Nazi gathering

An Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C., apologized on Sunday after a group of neo-Nazis ate dinner there on Friday, the day before a white nationalist conference in the nation's capital.

Maggiano's said in a statement that restaurant employees did not know the guests were white nationalists and neo-Nazis. They were also offended by a tweet sent after the dinner, in which three attendees are photographed giving a Nazi salute inside the restaurant.

"This expression of support of Hitler is extremely offensive to us, as our restaurant is home to Teammates and Guests of every race, religion and cultural background," the restaurant said in its Facebook statement. Later, they added, "we want to sincerely apologize to the community of Friendship Heights for inadvertently hosting this meeting, which resulted in hateful sentiment."

The restaurant also said it will donate its Friday profits to the Washington, D.C., office of the Anti-Defamation League, which works to combat anti-Semitism and hate crime. Maggiano's pegged that day's profits at around $10,000.

Employees and guests at the Maggiano's in Washington, D.C., found themselves at the site of a protest on Friday, as demonstrators gathered to speak out against the white nationalist gathering. The restaurant closed down for the evening, only to later figure out what had happened.

Neo-Nazis and white nationalists were in the city for a Saturday conference hosted by a white nationalist think tank led by Richard Spencer. Spencer has been called the "father" of the alt-right, a catch-all term for white nationalists and neo-Nazis who understand how to use the various parts of the internet to spread their racist and xenophobic views.

The day after the incident at Maggiano's, Spencer concluded a speech by shouting "hail Trump!"

The account that tweeted the Nazi salute photo from Maggiano's (which belongs to Tila Tequila -- yes, that Tila Tequila), has been suspended.