Best served cold! Furious restaurateur gets revenge on diners who leave bad reviews by sharing CCTV of them appearing to enjoy their food
The furious owner of a Mediterranean restaurant has started to ‘out’ diners who leave bad reviews – by posting CCTV footage of them enjoying the food they later criticise.
Pejman Zamani has run an eponymous eaterie in the Leicestershire market town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch for the past 36 years, selling Cypriot dishes like moussaka and stifado alongside pizza and pasta classics.
But lately Mr Zamani has become infuriated by the phenomenon of people leaving anonymous bad reviews online – which he says can be hugely damaging.
So this week the 65-year-old decided to strike back – in a move that would cause immense local controversy.
The trigger was a review posted on Google under the username ‘Anonymous’, claiming that a family’s first visit to Zamani’s had been ‘a very disappointing and expensive evening’.
After the diner explained that the food ‘didn’t live up to expectations’ and suggested the ‘tired’ interior could ‘do with a refresh’, Mr Zamani was outraged.
He responded by going through the restaurant’s CCTV footage to identify the woman he believes was behind the scathing review – and then published a screen grab of the party she was with.
The image shows a man dining with her giving a ‘thumbs up’ sign with both hands – in what he believes to be a sign of apparent approval – when approached by a female member of staff.
Pejman Zamani says he was hurt by anonymous criticism and so decided to reveal the diners behind the review
The Zamani’s restaurant owner claims CCTV footage shows a happy dining experience before a disappointing online review was posted
Posting the image on a local community site on Facebook, Mr Zamani, who had apparently already tracked the reviewer down and had an exchange of messages with them, wrote: ‘Well, well, well. Guess what?! She says it’s not personal!!
‘She writes a negative review anonymously…
‘Her and her husband finished everything, asked for their child’s pizza to be put in a box to take home, thanked my staff, he put two thumbs up!!
‘I am sure she has friends, not many, but look at the photos from my CCTV, with all the legal signage, and judge for yourself!!!
‘You damage mine, unfairly, I will expose you.
‘I will soon post her messages to me, asking me not to harass her as she really didn’t want me to know who she is!!!
‘That’s why this lady posted anonymously…’
While the posting has since been deleted, the review he is apparently referring to remains on Google.
In it, the unnamed female diner began by explaining her evening had started well saying: ‘This was our first visit, and we were really looking forward to it.
‘The restaurant has a lovely little courtyard, which was a great place to sit and enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail, and it gave a really nice first impression.’
But she went on to explain that ‘the food didn’t live up to our expectations’ and that the main courses were ‘disappointing’.
She continued: ‘The chips tasted like standard oven chips with very little flavour, which wasn’t what we’d expect for the price.
‘My chicken was swimming in an overly salty Diane sauce, while my partner’s herb-rubbed dish was dry.
‘The pizza was also disappointing – we left most of it. The base wasn’t the thin, crispy style we’d hoped for and was quite heavy instead.’
Of the rest of the experience, she said: ‘The service was polite but felt rather inattentive.
‘No one came to check whether we were enjoying our meals, and when our plates were cleared, nobody asked how the food had been or whether everything was satisfactory.
‘The interior also felt quite tired and could do with a refresh. Simple touches, such as tablecloths, would have made the tables feel cleaner, more welcoming, and added to the overall dining experience.’
Giving the restaurant two stars out of five for food, service and atmosphere, she summed up the experience saying: ‘Overall, it was a very disappointing and expensive evening. It’s a shame, as the setting has so much potential, but sadly the food and service didn’t justify the cost.’
On the community forum, a number of local residents said they were shocked by Mr Zamani’s outburst which one said happened ‘just because people don’t like food or decor’.
Zamani made a statement online saying the family finished all the food but still left a negative review
In response to Zamani’s post, one contributor said they wouldn’t visit his restaurant again
One contributor wrote: ‘I didn’t see the review but this is bang out of line regardless.
Another, Amanda Hodgekinson, responded saying: ‘Yeah, I won’t be going again after seeing this post.’
A third wrote: ‘Zamani is getting quite a name on social media for his tantrums… really unprofessional and unnecessary.’
They appeared to be referring to a previous outburst by Mr Zamani which became the subject of headlines in a local news outlet in June.
A different female diner using the name Martina B, had given Zamani’s three stars in a review but had described the restaurant as looking ‘tatty and unloved’.
She complained that there were ‘very little’ Italian dishes on offer aside from ‘a big concentration of pizza’.
Martina said the restaurant had ‘no ambience’ and said her meal ‘felt rushed’, also complaining about ‘the loud banging from the pizza place next door’.
She said the only reason she did not score the restaurant ‘a two’ was due to the ‘very nice’ pasta dish that she had but concluded: ‘I doubt I’d go back’.
Mr Zamani once again took to monitoring the restaurant’s CCTV footage to challenge the review which he said had ‘upset’ his business.
He did not share images on that occasion but instead used the footage to provide a timeline of the woman’s visit to the restaurant.
In a Facebook post he said the diner ordered at 7.33pm before the starter was served at 7.39pm, with the plate cleared 10 minutes later at 7.49pm then mains served at 8.05pm.
Addressing elements of the review he did not like Mr Zamani said: ‘A number of pasta dishes and pizzas on the menu haven’t changed for over 20 years. The specials have always been extremely variable.
‘The young chap in the pizzeria dropped a tray, by accident, we are terribly sorry about that.
‘Unfair and unjust review. I am not happy.’
Complaining about negative reviews more broadly, Mr Zamani – who is also a local councillor – said: ‘Why do people feel the need to upset a local business and its staff?
‘If you don’t like it, for whatever reason, just don’t come back again, we won’t miss you and you obviously won’t miss us. Simple.’
He concluded the message saying: ‘Signed: Pejman Zamani. The passionate and loving owner of the business for over 36 years.’
Regular customers say that, while fiercely protective of his staff and his business, Mr Zamani is the consummate ‘convivial’ host.
After 36 years running his restaurant, Pejman Zamani says protecting his business and staff is personal
In response to Zamani, another contributor said ‘how can you post someone’s photo because they posted a negative review’
Over the years, Zamani’s has had hundreds of positive reviews on various forums and his restaurant is rated overall with 4.6 stars on both Tripadvisor and Google.
As well as the restaurant with its al fresco dining space, the venue has a wine bar and a popular cocktail bar and regularly hosts live music events on Sunday afternoons.
An AI summary of reviews on Tripadvisor says: ‘Zamani’s Restaurant is popular among many travellers for its relaxed and inviting atmosphere, featuring soft lighting and live music.
‘The decor, while authentic, is noted by some as slightly dated. Guests frequently praise the delicious and varied menu, with standout dishes like pizzas and homemade pastas.
‘The restaurant is celebrated for offering excellent value, with generous portions and reasonable prices.
‘Service earns accolades for its friendliness and attentiveness, though a few have mentioned occasional rushed interactions.’
Mr Zamani has also been flooded with messages of support since his latest posting which he said he had taken down because it was ‘affecting’ his wife Kate.
He said: ‘She is not like me, she likes a calm, peaceful life! She didn’t want me to respond at all but the more I watched the video the more it wound me up.’
Explaining his reaction to one supporter he said: ‘I take it very personal, it’s not really been a job for the last few years, it’s been more like a lifestyle and a duty but don’t know how I feel right now about it all.’
Thanking loyal customers he said: ‘I am temperamental, Kate is cool and laid back.
‘In order to save my marriage everything is deleted but, be assured, not forgotten.’
Mr Zamani has been contacted.
