Justin Hemmes breaks silence after claims his iconic Australian restaurant Totti’s was copied in Paris
Billionaire cafe and restaurant magnate Justin Hemmes has reacted to the news that there is a ‘copycat’ location of his eatery Totti’s in Paris.
The CEO of Merivale shared his thoughts on Tuesday about Totti, a doppelgänger of his restaurant Totti.
‘Don’t they say that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’? “I’m not sure I agree with that,” he said.
Totti, an Italian restaurant based in Paris, shares some notable similarities with Justin Hemmes’ Totti’s – a Merivale chain with Italian cuisine and locations in Bondi, Rozelle, Sydney’s CBD and now Lorne in Victoria.
The French ‘cut copy’ was spotted by famous Australian Instagram account Miss Double Bay, who called the similarity between both restaurants ‘uncanny’.
A restaurant in France has faced controversy after Aussies spotted its striking resemblance to a popular Australian eatery. Pictured (left): Entrance to Totti restaurant in Paris, Totti’s restaurant entrance in Bondi
Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes (right) responded to the drama by saying: ‘Don’t they say ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’? I’m not sure I agree with that’
The account shared several comparison images, including the restaurants’ very similar menus and logos.
‘I noticed that we have a doppelgänger in our midst: Totti (without ‘s’), an Italian restaurant in Paris. The like4like is UNCANNY,” she wrote.
‘Not to mention the misleading nature of their IG account (@totti.restaurant), where even my girl @jackieo_official accidentally tagged the wrong location. @merivale puts the lawyers on standby.’
The revelation shocked the 60,000 people.
“Totti, you can copy Totti’s but you will NEVER come up with the crabby patty formula to make the bread puff up like that,” one person wrote.
“How could they… HOW COULD they!!!!,” said a second.
Merivale’s Totti’s menu, created by Chef Mike Eggert, offers a range of Italian dishes from pasta, antipasti and the famous ‘puffy’ wood-fired bread.
Although French Totti does not have their bread on their menu, they do have garlic and olive oil bread, as well as several similar dishes such as burrata, schnitzel and tiramisu.
Totti, an Italian restaurant based in Paris, bears a striking resemblance to Justin Hemmes’ Totti’s – a Merivale chain with Italian cuisine and locations in Bondi, Rozelle, Sydney’s CBD and now Lorne in Victoria
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson confronted the Parisian restaurant on Tuesday that looks almost identical to a famous Australian chain.
The radio duo went the extra mile during their radio show by contacting the doppelgänger restaurant to summon them.
“It’s here in Australia. Are you from the same company?’ Kyle pressured an employee.
“Oh no, we’re not actually the same company,” the employee replied.
“But the logo is exactly the same, the fonts of the logo, are you sure it’s not the same?” Kyle continued, to which the man replied, “I’m sure we’re not the same.”
The staff member revealed that the Parisian restaurant would open in 2022, while Totti’s first opened in Bondi, Sydney, in 2018.
He also noted that his boss had “never been to Sydney”, let alone heard of the iconic Merivale chain.
Jackie also said she accidentally tagged the imitation restaurant while enjoying the culinary delights at Totti’s Bondi.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Justin Hemmes and his representatives for comment.
The French ‘cut copy’ was spotted by famous Australian Instagram account Miss Double Bay, who called the similarities between both restaurants ‘uncanny’. Pictured: food and drinks at Totti’s Bondi