The council believes that the second word in the restaurant’s name, taken from the title of Herman Melville’s classic novel about the pursuit of a white whale, is grossly unsuitable and would “harm the image” of the property.

It has barred the chippy from frying-up and wants a minimalist and toned-down logo to replace the happy, spouting whale which currently graces the frontage.

Now the owners, Mengfa International which has owned the unit in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour since 2010 and had initially leased the space to an Asian-fusion restaurant, are taking the council to court.

In court documents, the owners claim that the restaurant’s name is “not offensive to the public, given its literary significance and fame.”

The case will be heard by British Columbia’s Supreme Court.