Mission Beach Plenty Restaurant and Bar hits back at ‘keyboard warriors’

A Far North restaurant has put its customers on notice by exposing unmerited reviews left on its Google page, as it contends with major public construction works on its front door. What was said.

Mission Beach Plenty Restaurant and Bar hit back at some customers who left unmerited reviews.

A Far Northern beachside restaurant has received widespread support for hitting back at customers leaving unmerited Google reviews, as it prepares to contend with a major public construction project at its front door.

Mission Beach’s Plenty Restaurant and Bar venue manager Jason Monteforte took to Facebook to share three one-star reviews left by frustrated customers who claimed they had booked for five people, but were refused a table on Saturday to celebrate a birthday, because they had allegedly requested a table for two.

Mr Monteforte in his post shared a photo of an online booking form which showed a request for two people, as well as screenshots of the reviews in which some reviewers state they had attempted to book for five, and another stated six.

Plenty Restaurant and Bar at Mission Beach food has had a revamped menu in the past six months. Picture: Plenty Restaurant and Bar / Facebook.

“As you can see, you aren’t even able to get your facts correct when leaving scathing reviews on a business which was essentially a result of your own shortfalls,” his post read.

“To rate one star for food that you didn’t even taste, rate an environment you chose not to enjoy and then rate our service, after bending over backwards to try and appease you, is truly an appalling act.”

The post was applauded by multiple other customers as well as fellow small business The Wandering Panda Coffee Van which hailed the restaurant for calling out “keyboard warriors”.

Mr Monteforte said following six months of revamping the “polished dining” restaurant’s menu including an exclusive wine list and wild-caught and sustainably-sourced food products, its next challenge would be battling through heavy public construction in its peak tourism months.

The town which at times doubles its population with visitors during the winter months is in the midst of stage 2 of its CBD revitalisation project with “major construction” commenced on Monday.

Concept designs for the Mission Beach Town Centre Revitalisation project have been released. Picture: supplied.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council has this financial year budgeted $16.8m towards the $18.9m project, which aimed to “transform the streetscape of Village Green Precinct” and adjacent Porter Promenade as well upgrade ageing stormwater infrastructure – which is first on the list of works for Stage 2.

While Mr Monteforte said the project was a “good concept” for the tourist town, he was said he’d like a greater effort from the council to help mitigate operating challenges with his business positioned in the epicentre of works.

The $18.98 million Mission Beach Town Centre Revitalisation Project includes the upgrade of ageing stormwater infrastructure and redevelopment of the Mission Beach Village Green and adjacent Porter Promenade. Photo: Supplied

“I know the council has been speaking with the owners, but we’ve stopped doing lunches since April and yet there’s hardly been any work happening, so that’s a lot of lost business.

“There’s been bits and pieces happening and a bit of jackhammering and it just kicks up a heap of dust which has become our problem; it would be nice for more consultation with the council on how we could be mitigating that, maybe additional fencing, temporary plants.”

A CCRC spokesman confirmed the April works were pre-construction works involving site investigations and planning.

“Throughout this process protecting local businesses from construction impacts has been a

priority for Council. This commitment includes an on-site construction liaison who will work with businesses to mitigate impacts, as well as a $30,000 shop-local campaign which we’re

developing in consultation with local traders,” the spokesman said.

“Council has hosted a pre-construction briefing and conducted business walk-throughs, and

through our online project information page we have published contact details to ensure that

those who haven’t been able to take part in our consultations can come to us at a convenient

time.

“We hope that through this process all businesses will be forthcoming in seeking advice throughout construction.”

Lead contractor RMS Engineering has also established an on-site office to communicate with affected parties.

Originally published as Mission Beach Plenty Restaurant and Bar hits back at ‘keyboard warriors’