Yiasou George owner praised for classy response to rude customer’s review of Adelaide restaurant

A restaurateur is being praised for his elegant response to criticism from a rude customer who said he hoped “the owner had cancer” after being told to respect fellow diners.

The disgruntled customer was given a table at Adelaide’s popular Yiasou George restaurant on New Year’s Eve, but left the one-star Google review the next day.

Our waiter was allergic to fun. This was billed as a “disco party atmosphere” but our laughter was “too loud”… If there were zero stars available I’d give it… I hope the owner has cancer,” said the reviewer known as Alex.

But owner Oliver Brown, who runs Yiasou George as part of local hotel collective The Big Easy Group, turned the critic around with a quick response.

Yiasou George owner Oliver Brown (pictured) took the high road after a sour customer review

Yiasou George (pictured) is a popular restaurant in the Adelaide CBD serving modern Greek-Australian food in a relaxed setting.

“It’s the owner here, who you wished cancer on,” he wrote.

“At Yiasou George, we love to see our customers having fun, but my staff informed me that you had too much fun before you arrived and politely asked you to respect the other people dining in the restaurant.”

‘What’s not very funny is cancer. And it’s not very funny to wish that to the restaurant staff who are doing their job. We have donated the entire amount of your meal to the Cancer Council.

Mr. Brown then shared a receipt for a $499 donation to the Cancer Council – the amount of the man’s bill.

He added that he and his staff have chosen to start the new year with “good vibes, love and support for anyone facing cancer.”

The owner donated $499, the amount of the man’s bill, to the Cancer Council.

‘You can choose to start 2023 any way you want. But it won’t be in one of (The Big Easy Group’s) places again.’

‘I wish you a happy new year full of respect and personal growth.’

The Big Easy Group runs seven bars and restaurants in Adelaide: Yiasou George, Bowden Brewing, Masa Kitchen, The Stag Public House, NOLA Adelaide, Anchovy Bandit and Bottega Bandito.

mr brown said The Adelaide Advertiser that the staff member serving the customer’s table did an ‘incredible’ job, adding that all diners are sent a feedback survey via email, but the man chose to publicly insult them.

Social media was awash with praise for Brown’s handling of the situation and he vowed to dine out more at his establishments.

Mr Brown (pictured with his wife) runs The Big Easy hospitality collective of seven Adelaide bars and restaurants, including Yiasou George.

“Congratulations on raising the bar in both hospitality and being human…this post makes me want to dine with your team even more than I already have,” one person wrote.

‘The whole class Oliver! A credit to you, your team and your business, brilliant,” wrote another.

‘Alex should be ashamed of himself, ashamed. There are only a few keyboard warriors that will never be satisfied,” added a third.