piccolo ristorante italiano

i'm writing to show support for the group abused by thechefat piccolo's some time ago. i know nothing of their experience personally, but the group i was dining with there in july was also screamed at and abused by the chef. we (30 of us) had booked out the restaurant for a 50th birthday, and had had a pleasant time until the time for closing; their liquor licence requiring this at 11pm. perfectly reasonable, and most of the guests were out the door as the bill was being paid. a handful of chatterers had to be reminded by a waitress (looking nervous....clearly she knows her boss....) that the restaurant was closing, and as they stood to leave, thecheferupted from the kitchen with a torrent of foul mouthed abuse - leaving our entire party inside and out in disbelief. i must add that no one was drunk and no one had done anything to incur his wrath other than half a dozen people being slow to pick up their handbags! i might add that the host was still in the process of paying the bill at this time.

i write this in order to show that the much maligned group in earlier posts is not alone in their experience, but also to express my disappointment. i'm a local and have eaten at piccolo's several times supporting a local establishment. we have always enjoyed ourselves and hoped to continue, but we will never return sadly. one of our members joked that 'maybe it was the italian temperament!', but another (also a chef) knew of him as a kiwicheffrom queenstown whose business there had failed. hardly surprising. perhaps a course in anger management would be of assistance to him.

am finally getting around to reviewing this handy wee neighborhood bistro that we go to quite often. it's unpretentious and very authentic in style. many new zealanders may not know that about an italian bistro. they do pizza and pasta and that's it. the sauces are all simple and fresh and the pizza and garlic bread is all obviously done in a brick oven. they serve authentic italian wines, including something really special that is from the cashmere neighborhood! cracroft chase make (as in grow and bottle) an italian style pinot gris and it's fab! it's grown just up the road in the cracroft valley! go and see the winery in summer and meet the italian owners! but anyway, back to piccolo, yes thechefis a colourful character who isn't italian, but maybe should be! we love the young staff, especially the young italian guy they had in there for a while - he added to the whole atmosphere. i have worked my way through the menu and liked everything i've had. the prices indicate that this is bistro quality, not fine dining. the table salad is basic but fresh and everything else is like 'mama' would make. we love the place and we hope like heck it stays around.

piccolo rocks. isn't it funny how the group of "professionals" need to list their jobs like that excuses their atrocious behaviour. 7 "professional" adults on to one 61 year old chef, please. we look forward to dining there again, gochefcinderella!!!

firstly - never been there either & now never will. but i do know the table involved, and this is for these idiots..
g.f. ace, lexibelle, courts, don c.

the group consisted of...
icu nurse
hospital dietician
accountant
electrician
pharmacy tech
insurance broker

they are aged 40+ to 60+, not young hoons looking to get into a fight, munted, wasted, stoned etc, just a nice night out.
no patches, not skanks, white trash, gin swilling alcoholics, just normal people - who would never get into trouble.

i wasn't there as i'm the rowdy one, and don't like quiet nights out. i call this group my friends, and i will stick up for them! they haven't posted as they want to forget the shambles. i'm not wanting to sound high & mighty because i'm not, but to read these posts saying my friends were drunk ageist trouble makers p1sses me off.

as posts from patrons at other tables who were there - thechefflew off the handle, starting the whole thing, just as my friends have stated. perhaps they were drunk too? - yeah right.

so what if someone complained that the order was again wrong - thats what customers are entitled to do!

could my mates had handled it better - quiet possibly, but how would any of you know how you would react when achefcomes at you swearing and pushing you around. i doubt anyone would accept your lady's hair being pulled - so what if "she was in the way".

ffs, all you hospitality type all bandying about the 'poor old honest chef', labelling my mates as drunk trouble makers - boils my blood, shame on you. perhaps you are related to the chef, or perhaps being in the industry this is what you have all secretly wished you could have done too?

the owner should offer an apology for ruining not just my friends night, but the other tables too.

sorry if grammar and punctuation etc are not up to oxford dictionary quality.

i’ve been here twice and had takeaways as well. the food has always been great but i have never experienced such poor behaviour, here or anywhere for that matter.
here are the facts:
1. wine appreciation group that meet each month. all seven are over 40 years of age and drive; they have a self-imposed 2 drink limit. they recently moved venues due to the earthquakes.
2. entrée order for one of the woman at the table came out incorrectly, twice. first time it was wrong and the second time it included specifically excluded mushrooms. she sent it back both times.
3.chefreturned the second attempt at the entrée himself, he abused the woman. ask any of the customers there that night.
4. he then swore at the rest of the group and assaulted other diners at the table including one of the other women.
it is a shame that this event has been sensationalised and there is support for the chef’s violent outburst. he abused and assaulted customers. for whatever reason, thecheflost his temper that night plain and simple. he should be embarrassed by his uncouth, unprofessional behaviour.

firstly never been, but would love to see this place, and to have worked in a restaurant, i could only imagine a bunch of muppet's coming in thinking they are above everyone else, and demanding their orders,
good on thechefand when we are down there, i am going to go and try it,
thanks to the table of clowns who have given such great publicity for the place!

i have worked in the hospo industry - front of house for over 20 years. this does indeed seem an extreme case, however i have personally experienced probably about 3-4 'groups' like this in my career. i have read all the reviews right down to the start and it would seem that thechefis not usually known for this behaviour... even other possibly critical reviews did not experience violence and abuse. i can only imagine how this group must have behaved to get thechefto leave his kitchen in the middle of service and personally come out to deliver this dish to their table. he was obviously wound up by something and probably on reflection should have stayed back there and left it to the wait staff to mange.
what irks me however is inevitably the group who all say they did nothing to provoke or incur his wrath.. i mean - come on!
it is a classic case of a group - all having a merry time and lots to drink, not giving an objective story and now outraged at the consequence.
certainly no one could possibly say thechefhandled this well - in fact he handled it very badly, but please put your hands up and be fair - you must have been a really difficult pain in the butt group to have made him spark off like that!
at the end, this publicity will hopefully give this little place a good lift in business.
chef, leave it to the front of house team and throw a few pots instead!
( i have rated it 3 stars to be fair to all)

i wanted to briefly comment on this issue. i have performed, worked and run businesses in the arts for almost 20 years. we have a simple policy in regard to unwanted patrons...we just ask them to leave. no-one has a birth-right to be in a restaurant or theatre-- they have to behave and be welcome. i have no doubt thischefwas highly provoked. after reading the 'professional's ' review i can only say her level of english grammar would not enable her to work as a 'professional' in my business. i also sense an ageist attitude in her call for him to 'retire '. having not been to the restaurant ( but i hope to ) i have given it a middle score of 3 stars.

just read the article. good on the chef. good bit of publicity for him too :p

i only wish i was there to back thechefup... someone should have smashed a chair over those idiots heads.

in his 60s and defending himself against a group of much younger men... good sh*t!! gutless f*cks.

i would say to be honest these professionals who think they can handle their alcohol after a hard day at work are joking. if you cannot handle the alcohol dont drink period. and to think that customers are always right is not in my books. i suppport thechefand management for standing up to these middle class hooligans. i work in retail and i know what its like with customers that they think the world evolves around them. but they will never get pass me for sure. good work picollo ristorante italiano because customers will realise that they need to show some respect too. and to those who gave negative reviews, youre just a one in a million so get over it. and yup obviously these are all middle aged arrogant idiots who dont think of anyone else but themselves and their precious little career conversations how boring.. owner andchefplease do not let your guard down and give in to the demands of some of the reviewers on here to apologise. these 40+ lowlives should apologise to you guys instead..continue the good work:)

0 stars - 1 is too much.
i was 1 of a group of 7 adults (40+) who was at the centre of this atrocious behaviour by the chef/owner?
we are all professionals and were not drunk - and had been there about an hour, hoping to enjoy a nice meal with good friends.
we are all stunned and shocked (still) at the appalling treatment we received by the chef/owner.
my friend sent back her order twice - as they kept getting the order wrong. i'm sure order mistakes happen from time to time at restaurants - normally no big deal.
thechefcame out and slammed the plate of food in front of my friend, telling her that if she had problem with his food she could just f#$k off. she left, we were stunned, especially once he told us and other patrons that we could all f@&k off to if we didn't like his food.
thechefaggressively slammed the table at my mate and grabbed/shook his chair.
things escalated, with plates/wine smashed on the floor. my female friend was in tears as he pulled her long hair - not letting go. my mate tried to stop him but got punched in the face. the waitress was aghast, and kept apologising as he rampaged.
the review by the guy below must be related to the chef/owner, and couldn't of been there - as any reasonable person would not think thechefhandled this well.
i have only now composed myself to even write this - as i need to warn everyone about this madman.
patrons - avoid avoid avoid.
owner - anger management course and retire.
ccc - close down this crazy man.

hi
3rd time i have been there and twice this weekend / were there last night when a table of troublemakers caused a scene obviously couldn't handle the drink and when management asked then to leave they caused a scene but was handled well by management/staff so i took my parents back tonight as it's a great place and the food is just out of this world - good vegetarian selection which not seen on alot of menus and the desserts are to die for mmmmmmm / great outdoor area also.i would recommend casual dine or to impress some friends / just great well done guys and thanks
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just got an email from a media organisation and here is my reply

hi
i did put my comments on the website as you can see above and other than that from my dining experiences over the years i have never seen a waiter orchefhave a plate thrown at them or kicked at as the customers leave - ask yourself? maybe an idea to look at all 16 reviews - 10 of them over 4 star plus and the 4 bad reviews are from this group - maybe ask the others who have put a review and rated it as i did
thank you
regards

anthony