Adelaide restaurant applauded for response to cruel Google review
A restaurant has received a wave of support from Australians after its classy response to a cruel Google reviewer.
A restaurant owner has received a landslide of praise after his response to a rude customer review went viral.
A customer visited Yiasou George, a Mediterranean-style venue in Adelaide’s East End, on New Year’s Eve before they decided to leave a scathing Google review of the business.
A special dining event offered a shared tasting menu and champagne on arrival while promising “disco party vibes” and “loads of ouzo shots”.
The reviewer complained he had been told by staff that he was being “too loud” before having a personal dig at the restaurant’s owner.
“Happy new year, and I hope that the owner gets cancer,” he wrote.
It appears the review has since been deleted from the business’ Google Review page.
Managing director Oliver Brown of Big Easy Group, which owns Yiasou George, took to social media to clear up the damning review.
“My staff inform me you already had a bit too much fun before you arrived, and they politely asked you to respect the other people dining in the restaurant,” Mr Brown wrote.
“What isn’t very fun is cancer. And it’s not very funny to wish it upon restaurant staff who are doing their jobs.”
Following his response, Mr Brown told the restuarant’s 5,000 Instagram followers he had donated the full cost of the disgruntled reviewer’s $499.95 meal to the Cancer Council.
“At Yiasou George and the Big Easy Group, we treat everyone with respect and won’t tolerate this type of behaviour,” he wrote.
“So we’ve invited (the reviewer) to never dine with us again. Here’s to a damn good 2023 full of good vibes only.”
Mr Brown’s donation was met with praise from all over Australia.
More than 30 Google reviews have been posted in the last week, the majority rating Yiasou George with five-star reviews.
“Legendary response to Alex! Never been to your restaurant, but hats off to you for donating to charity, on behalf of Alex,” one reviewer wrote on Thursday morning.
“I also haven't been to this restaurant (yet) but I want to applaud the owner for his excellent response,” another said.
“It’s disgusting to wish cancer on anybody! Sounds to me like the person who wrote that “drunken” review is already very sick!”
Others praised Mr Brown’s support of those who have experienced or have supported loved ones through cancer diagnoses.
“As someone who has been affected by cancer and lost love ones, I applaud your integrity,” one reviewer wrote.
“Fight hate with love.”
“Haven’t eaten there, but respect the hell out of the owner and how and how you handled a particular keyboard warrior,” another said.
“Next time I’m in Adelaide, I’ll be heading your way for sure.”
“Kudos to this venue for the respectful handling of a disrespectful, disruptive and scurrilous diner (and the fake review),” a third said.