A customer has been left shocked by a restaurant owner who showcased a relentless desire to get to the bottom of a scathing one-star review on the establishment’s Facebook page.
Gideon Marisa, a former MasterChef contestant, visited HeadQuarters Viaduct bar on a Sunday afternoon with some friends and was unimpressed with the service.
When the restaurant’s Facebook page popped up on his Facebook news feed while he was on holiday in Fiji a few weeks later, the food-enthusiast decided to post his review.
Gideon Marisa, a former MasterChef contestant, visited HeadQuarters Viaduct bar on a Sunday afternoon with some friends and was unimpressed with the service so left a review
Shortly after Mr Marisa received a direct message to his private inbox from owner Leo Molloy which was the start of an unpleasant exchange with the Auckland waterfront bar
Mr Marisa, rated the restaurant just one star out of five because of the ‘terrible service’ he experienced and claimed none of the staff ‘knew what they were doing’.
‘It’s a pity as the venue has potential but is let down tremendously by pure sloppiness,’ he wrote under his Facebook name ‘Gidz Khalifa’.
Shortly after Mr Marisa received a direct message to his private inbox from owner Leo Molloy which was the start of an unpleasant exchange with the Auckland waterfront bar.
Firstly, Mr Molloy asked for more details about the experience to which Mr Marisa replied as he is on holiday he would prefer to offer further insight at a later time.
Respectfully Mr Molloy said ‘Roger that,’ however hours later followed up with another message, questioning whether Mr Marisa even visited the bar.
Mr Marisa then offered a full explanation of how he came to post the review while on holiday and outlined his issues
He went through each of the problems he experienced with staff, the seating and the drink
Mr Marisa was on holiday in Fiji when he was contacted by the restaurant owner
The response only caused Mr Molloy to cause further conflict, with Mr Molloy defending his establishment
When contacted by Daily Mail Australia Mr Molloy confirmed he had reached out to Mr Marisa following the poor review
He follows up his long message with: ‘Try to find something you actually know something about or desist from your toxic drivel’
Mr Marisa argues he tried to be diplomatic and after saying he will go to the media, continues to be provoked by Mr Molloy
‘Gidz can you help me understand why no staff remember you or your bad day at HQ (we’ve circulated your photo),’ he said in a lengthy statement which also questioned what Mr Marisa ‘actually does for a living?’
Mr Marisa then offered a full explanation of how he came to post the review while on holiday and outlined his issues.
The response only caused Mr Molloy to cause further conflict, with Mr Molloy defending his establishment.
He follows up his long message with: ‘Try to find something you actually know something about or desist from your toxic drivel.’
Mr Marisa argues he tried to be diplomatic but cites ‘If this is actually the way you deal with a bad review I’m left with an odd taste in my mouth.’
Mr Molloy continued to message Mr Marisa despite being told he don’t not want to continue in conversation
Mr Marisa sends the bar owner a video of the tropical surroundings in Fiji but is met with an angry response
Mr Molloy went on to send the former MasterChef contestant a steady stream of messages after he had been contacted by media
He then says he has a record of the conversation to be passed on to a New Zealand media outlet. Mr Marisa instead contacted Daily Mail Australia.
When contacted by Daily Mail Australia Mr Molloy confirmed he had reached out to Mr Marisa following the poor review.
‘He made a lot of comments that had no basis or facts, clearly there were holes in his story.’ Mr Molloy said Mr Marisa had been unable to identify when he actually came in.
He said he did an internet search for the complainants name ‘to find out if he was a credible food critic or not’ and claims Mr Marisa has between 10 – 20 other reviews for different restaurants, including a Subway.
He acknowledged staff had been made of aware of an issue with which menu he could order from.
Mr Molloy told DMA he did an internet search for the complainants name ‘to find out if he was a credible food critic or not’
He acknowledged staff had been made of aware of an issue with which menu he could order from