Red Sparrow Pizza & Rooftop Bar — Restaurant in Melbourne

Food was okay, except that the pizza base was soggy (apart from the crust which was delicious). Service was okay. Sadly we didn't get to dessert because the atmosphere was appalling, we left before my friend even finished her cocktail (which wasn't very nice anyway). It was incredibly loud to the point we had to lean in over the table and shout at each other to have any chance of being heard. I think we must've been at about the worst table in the place (it should be scrapped). It was in the back near the kitchen and the door to exit outside to the toilets. I was whacked on the back multiple times by staff and patrons as they went past (and I'm very thin, I hate to think how a larger person would have fared). I also had to get up and close the door constantly as it kept staying open and letting the freezing cold winter air in when people went out. It was an awful dining experience. I told the staff but they just shrugged. Then I received an email asking for a 5 star review or to let them know if tbere was a problem. I replied and explained the issues we'd had and they didn't even bother to respond. So now they can have the review they deserve (nowhere near 5 stars!), which I wouldn't have posted at all but for their invitation

Following the owner's response I would like to make clear it wasn't that the table wasn't perfect, it's that it was bloody awful. No one would pay to eat there if they knew what the experience was going to be like. And, as I said in my email it wasn't just patrons leaving the door open but also their own staff!

I'm not sure what being a small business or upgrading seats has to do with it but congrats for actually responding, and so quickly too 👏 As I thought was made clear in my review it was your rudness at not bothering to respond after I took the time to give you the feedback you requested privately that prompted me to post publicly. I had moved on from the dreadful dinner experience soon after leaving.

Hint: get off your high horse and have a learning moment 😉

Maybe then you can consider implementing the improvement suggested in my email. A self closing door would resolve at least part of the problem. Or at the very least, a visible signage on the door requesting people close it after them might help. It seems you are already well aware that...

To answer the owner's response First of all, we DID NOT at all put the eaten pizza in anyone's hands. We only showed it to your staff in our hands. So I do not appreciate being accused of something we did not do especially disgusting and dehumanising behaviour.

Secondly, you did compensate by not charging the pizza THAT we could NOT eat which I think it is fair because it was inedible.

Thirdly, we did not accept when you offered to remake our food. Therefore, there was NO food wasted because we did NOT ask for another pizza and we left hungry still.

This would be the only and last time that I response to this review. I give honest review of my experience. If you cannot take constructive criticism, then it's too bad. I'm sure there are people who had good experience unfortunately it wasn't us. Thank you anyway.

Original review below Let's start with Arancini, it was good and crunchy as it's supposed to be.

Now pizza 🍕 we were a bit disappointed as we ordered two and they were a little doughy and undercooked. We could still feel the dough texture when we scraped the topping off to check if it's cooked.

We told one waiter and expected him to let the chef knows as he mentioned that there is a trial chef in the kitchen tonight. However, we saw him walking around and nothing happened.

Then, we had to tell another staff which is a manager that night if I recalled correctly. She immediately apologized and took it back to the chef. We told her what we were told about chef on trial and she said that the owner is also in the kitchen.

Appreciate your service and food. Not sure if we're coming back....

On the 14/03, my partner and I got dinner in the Red Sparrow. I have a nut allergy, so I picked a Margarita ate one slice, and felt allergic reaction symptoms. I asked my waitress twice if there were nuts in my pizza, but she claimed there was not. I spoke to the manager who offered to make me another. By now my symptoms were getting worse. We began to leave explaining I was having an allergic reaction. There was no empathy for my welfare in their restaurant. They wanted me to pay for my pizza still. My partner had to pay for his pizza and two drinks. I got outside and collapsed. An ambulance came and administered adrenaline injections. I was brought to St Vincent's hospital overnight and given further steroids. I had an anaphylactic shock from their pizza, where the waitress claimed there were no nuts in it. The next day, I went to their restaurant. The manager did not apologize or ask how my welfare was, even though their pizza nearly killed me. He explained the waitress was on trial (which is not my issue) and I had wasted 50 dollars of their pizza. He implied it was my fault, I did not mention the nut allergy in the first place. I came to their restaurant for an apology for the lack of compassion towards me last night. I hoped we could agree to educate their staff about allergies. I left in tears and extremely frustrated. The owner only cared about his business/ his fifty dollars and not the welfare of a human being. St Vincents Hospital will send the Food Safety Organisation to them. I would not recommend this place, because of their hostility and lack of diligence to train their staff on...