A restaurant in Australia has been praised after it publicly called out an unimpressed diner who gave it a brutal one-star review online.
The Gerogery Hotel, in the rural New South Wales town of Gerogery, looks like the dream restaurant for anyone with a big appetite.
The establishment offers customers a number of ‘challenges’ for visitors to complete in a matter of minutes, including 1kg rump steaks, outrageously large burgers and huge stacks of fried chicken and chips.
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It’s making me hungry just thinking about it, but not everyone feels the same.
Last week, The Gerogery Hotel shared a photo of a customer named James as he took on one of the challenges which consisted of eating 1kg of steak, 500g of chips and four servings of salad.
The hotel regularly shares similar photos of its customers, but one man named Robert took particular issue with the photo of James and decided to use it as he posted a Google review of the restaurant.
Alongside the picture of James, Robert wrote: “Why the hell would you serve someone this obese that much food? Absolutely disgusting.
“Might as well put up a pic of an [alcoholic] drinking jugs. Be better.”
The photo of James was later deleted, but Gerogery Hotel publican Norm Carl expressed his shock about the review as he spoke to news.com.au.
“I was disgusted by that,” Carl said. “Normally with a troll, I’ll just ignore it … but because it’s not just my image on the line, it was [James’], I felt like I had to attack it somehow and shame Robert into removing it.”
After seeing Robert’s post, Carl took a screenshot of the review and shared it to the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Alongside the screenshot, Carl wrote: “This is a Google review from a Robert who is not welcome at the G-Rodge. He seems to be a pathetic judgemental keyboard warrior hiding behind a restricted profile.
“We think Robert should take his own advice and be better.”
Carl went on to make clear that ‘lots of Roberts are awesome’, listing Robert Downey Jr, Robert De Niro and Robert Irwin, and added: “Tag a Robert who is a top bloke and isn’t a internet troll- who should visit the G-Rodge because they are welcome.”
However, to this particular Robert, the restaurant stressed that it ‘offers and serves’ customers whatever they want.
“Please know that we’ve reported that review because it’s goes completely against what we believe in,” it continued.
“Gerogery Hotel NSW is an inclusive welcoming environment where you come for a great feed and a good time. Feel free to do the same.”
The Facebook post has been flooded with praise by customers and fans of the restaurant, with many sticking up for the restaurant and for James.
“We are our own person. We can choose to eat whatever we feel like eating in your pub or anywhere that is an eating place,” one comment reads.
Another person wrote: “Best pub I’ve ever been too..love the food, service and friendly ppl n [sic] staff.”
Carl has explained that the challenges offered at the restaurant are ‘meant to be a bit of fun and a one-off’.
He added that James had apologised – unnecessarily – to Carl for the negative review, saying: “He’s just a really good down to earth guy, no one’s got the right to attack him.”