Backlash storm in wine glass

The Wellington restaurant which spoke out about Mayor Tory Whanau’s tipsy night out is facing a backlash on social media, but the general manager is unfazed.

Staff at the Old Quarter revealed on Monday that they had almost refused service to Whanau when she turned up tipsy on Friday evening but decided to serve her as she was going to have a meal too.

They claim she then became more intoxicated, asking the waiter if he knew who she was. Staff decided to cut her off, and Whanau left without paying the bill.

Whanau admits she was tipsy and forgot to pay — but says this was due to a miscommunication with her friend, where both thought the other had paid. She said she was not drunk and did not ask the waiter if he knew who she was.

Now, the restaurant is facing criticism on social media with people leaving negative reviews and saying they will boycott the eatery.

“Your media on the mayor is disgraceful! I won’t be coming back regardless of the food,” one person wrote. “I won’t be in there in the foreseeable future. I have worked in the hospitality trade . . . and discretion is so important,” another person wrote on Facebook.

General manager Shay Lomas told the Herald he and other staff stood by their account of the evening.

He said the positive feedback had outweighed the negative, and even the bad reviews didn’t worry him. “It’s like well, we’re still busy — so who cares? There’s been no meaningful impact.”

At 3pm yesterday there were plenty of people dining or drinking at the restaurant.