It’s just somebody’s opinion.”Īs to whether this has happened in the area before, Greater Ashmont Main Street executive director Jenn Cartee says she’s never witnessed such a review in her three-year tenure. If he comes here, I’m going to serve him.” Barbalace doesn’t want to make a big deal out of the review, noting that, while sad, “It’s just a review on Yelp nobody died. “If he comes here, he comes here to get some food, something to drink, and to have a good time. “I don’t need to be liked by everyone,” he said. While Barbalace doubts he or she will ever come back, he says he would serve the critic, despite their differences. With Zia Gianna only nine months old, Barbalace was surprised by and appreciates the level of support given to him by the community, with many posting Yelp reviews of their own to hopefully drown out Restaurant T’s. With his Facebook post and rainbow flag, Barbalace hoped to express that his cafe was “a place for everyone,” not just the gay clientele the critic highlighted. “I got mad for a little bit, and then I smiled, because it looked unreal.” He says he has no idea who Restaurant T is, though he assumes it is a ‘he.’ “It was something that you read happens somewhere else, not here” he told the Reporter. A Facebook post on the cafe’s page by its owner, Nino Barbalace, containing a screenshot of the review and expressing that all, “even this gentleman,” are welcome at Zia Gianna, has received over 100 positive comments, 38 shares, and almost 200 reactions - five times the usual amount.įor Barbalace, someone to whom cooking is an “expression of love” and food a means “to bring people together,” the review was surprising.

The Zia Gianna response and original Yelp postĪpart from five people who have found the review “useful” or “funny” on Yelp, the response has been one of unequivocal support and love for Zia Gianna.

Restaurant T, presumably of Italian heritage, also states that anyone who does this “should be stripped of citizenship and even their surname reflecting our heritage” for violating “our time tested Traditions and Iron-Clad rules of maintaining Roma Invicta.” One thing the critic couldn’t speak poorly of? The quality of the food (though, they add, portions are small). 10, someone under the name of “Restaurant T” claims the cafe is “clearly geared and catered ONLY to those who rally behind the rainbow flag,” something which he or she believes “should be considered treason against our Nation and our Italian Heritage and against Nature and should be punishable as a crime.” It is the first time the Italian restaurant has been subject to such an attack, apparently incited by its rainbow flag and non-Italian staff. A hateful review left on the Yelp page of Ashmont cafe Zia Gianna has neighbors rallying behind the popular brunch spot.

Roma invicta restaurant