Con Damouras, co-owner of Sydney’s 75-year-old Italian institution Bar Italia in Leichhardt, has become an online sensation for his witty and blunt responses to unfair Google reviews.
The restaurant, known for its classic pasta, tiramisu, and gelato, often attracts criticism for its “cash only” policy and casual approach to bookings.
Con told Daily Mail, “People just dine in, and whether they like it or not, they go online and say whatever they want – it’s crazy. The ones that just want to slam your business -I figured the only way to get back at them is to also just write something stupid, and hilarious, in return!”
Some of his replies have gone viral, including responses to complaints about takeaway container charges, time-limited bookings, and even the restaurant’s in-store ATM.
Con said, “Every restaurant, every business, gets slammed online by disgruntled people. But us being authentic and being such an iconic business, we had to say something back.”
The approach has drawn new patrons eager to meet Con and enjoy his food firsthand, including celebrities like Australian actress Toni Collette, who recently visited for gelato.
Bar Italia’s mix of “old school” hospitality, classic Italian dishes, and Con’s unapologetically cheeky online presence has cemented its place as a beloved Sydney institution.
Source: Daily Mail.
