George Calombaris bans customer after racist one-star review

High profile celebrity chefs have called out the diner who left a racist one-star review of George Calombaris’s new Greek restaurant to show their support for the friend.

George Calombaris has fired back at the customer for their review. Picture: ABC

Celebrity chef George Calombaris has slammed a customer who gave his new Greek restaurant a bad online review because it has Indian staff.

The diner at Calombaris’s Hellenic House Project in Highett complained the “authentic Greek” experience was far from it, and “practically none of the staff were Greek (including) the manager who was of Indian decent (sic)”.

After complaining the menu wasn’t offered promptly and didn’t reflect what was posted online, the customer added: “Calombaris – this place is a joke and you’ve certainly got a few people fooled.”

George Calombaris shared the review on social media. Source Instagram

George Calombaris gives it back to customer who's review was seen as racist by the chef – fellow chefs back George up. Source Instagram

But the former MasterChef judge fired back on Instagram, saying “this is horrible”.

“Yes, we made a mistake with your order. We are humans. And yes, my manager is Indian,” Calombaris said.

“You don’t have to speak Greek or be a Greek to work at THHP.

“You just have to be a good human. I am so proud of my team. I hate racism. F##in hate it.”

Calombaris’s celebrity chef mates weighed in to support him.

Manu Feildel, famous for co-hosting My Kitchen Rules, said, “Well done, George, people like this should just stay home. And that is a very polite way to say what I really feel like saying.”

And Gary Mehigan, one of the original judges alongside Calombaris on MasterChef Australia, posted a quote from human rights activist Mohamad Safa.

“Our world is not divided by race, colour, gender or religion,” it said.

“Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divided themselves by race, colour, gender or religion.”

The Hellenic House Project opened three months ago as Calombaris’s first foray back into the restaurant world since his empire went into administration in 2020.

In a video on Instagram two days ago, Calombaris alluded to teething problems at the new establishment.

“This is just a quick message to say thank you, thank you to all the incredible guests that have come through the Hellenic House Project, those of you that keep coming back,” he said.

“Yep, occasionally we’ve missed the mark on some of you. Thank you for giving us a second chance.

“We’re growing, we are learning, we constantly want to be better here. The team are doing an incredible job and I’m very proud of them.”