Chat Qui Rit | Ristorante Venezia Gourmet — Restaurant in Venice

Ah, Chat qui Rit—the "laughing cat" where, unfortunately, no one was smiling. Our foray into what was supposed to be an evening of Italian culinary delights quickly devolved into a bizarre cat-and-mouse game with the staff. The restaurant, eerily devoid of patrons (and I do mean empty), gave the impression of an abandoned film set—save for the sole actor, our waiter, Giovanni.

Giovanni, a man of contradictions, informed us that the kitchen was closed despite it being well within the advertised hours of operation. However, this didn’t stop him from delivering a spectacular performance of passive-aggressive commentary, suggesting we hadn’t ordered "enough" food. How one is meant to place an order from a closed kitchen remains an enigma for the ages.

As for the Italian cuisine we came for—well, we never got close enough to a plate to even speculate. Whether the kitchen was closed due to Giovanni’s whimsy or simply exhaustion from serving nobody all night, remains unclear. One thing’s certain: at Chat qui Rit, it's not the cat doing the laughing—it’s Giovanni.

Edit in reply: Giovanni’s response to our complaint unfortunately confirms the need for serious reflection on his conduct, exposing not only a pattern of dishonesty but also a blatant disregard for Italian laws—particularly those concerning discrimination and workplace ethics. His misleading statements are one thing, but his outright racist remarks reveal an even deeper problem.

In addition to blaming our child for the poor service, Giovanni referred to our mixed-race group as “barbarians,” a deeply offensive and discriminatory remark that further demonstrates his prejudiced mindset. Under Italian law, specifically the Codice delle Pari Opportunità (Equal Opportunities Code), discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or family status is strictly prohibited. Moreover, Legge 654/1975 and Legge Mancino further reinforce Italy’s zero-tolerance approach to racial discrimination, both in public spaces and the workplace. Giovanni's behavior clearly violates these laws, reflecting a deeply ingrained prejudice that has no place in any business.

Beyond his racist comments, Giovanni’s claim that we were wearing slippers and that the restaurant was expecting a party of eight is patently false. We have video evidence from inside the restaurant proving that his accusations are entirely fabricated. This dishonesty further violates the Statuto dei Lavoratori (Workers' Statute), which mandates that employees—especially business owners—conduct themselves with good faith and professionalism in all workplace interactions.

We have already screenshotted Giovanni’s response, and it has been reported to the appropriate consumer protection and legal authorities. His actions are not just a violation of basic hospitality but a breach of Italy’s anti-discrimination and labor laws. Furthermore, we will not hesitate to defend our right to post honest reviews based on our experience, which Giovanni himself has corroborated through his offensive and deceitful conduct.

This situation warrants serious legal and professional consequences, and we trust the authorities will ensure Giovanni is held accountable for his behavior. Discrimination, dishonesty, and racism should not be tolerated in any corner of Italy’s vibrant...

At Chat qui Rit, the food wasn't the only thing missing—the professionalism was too. Our waiter, Giovanni, shuffled over looking like he'd just rolled out of bed—shirt untucked, hair disheveled, and a scowl firmly planted on his face. The restaurant was empty, yet he claimed the kitchen was closed while grumbling that we didn’t order enough food. His appearance matched the service: sloppy, careless, and entirely unwelcoming. It’s hard to enjoy a meal when you’re too busy wondering if your waiter knows what a comb is.

EDIT 10/13/24: Thank you for your message, though it is disappointing that you continue to make baseless claims in an attempt to avoid addressing the core issues raised by numerous reviewers. Let me be very clear: the negative reviews are accurate, and your own admissions only reinforce the points made.

You have openly admitted that your restaurant’s bathrooms were unsanitary. This alone is a violation of basic health standards, which are expected from any public establishment, let alone a restaurant. By confirming that the bathroom conditions were “deplorable,” you acknowledge that your premises fail to meet even the most basic hygiene requirements, which is unacceptable by Italian law. Specifically, your failure to maintain sanitary conditions could be a violation of Article 5 of the Italian Law on Hygiene and Public Health (Legge n. 283/1962), which requires all public establishments to ensure sanitary conditions. You are confirming this violation yourself.

Further, your comments about “multiple children” and attempts to change the facts by suggesting we arrived with “tank tops and slippers” are not only false but show clear discrimination. The fact remains that there was only one infant in our group, and we did not request anything outside of reasonable accommodations. The Italian Constitution, under Article 3, guarantees equality and prohibits discrimination, including against families with children. Your remarks and actions clearly go against these principles, confirming your bias and discrimination against families. This is unacceptable and discriminatory behavior, something you confirmed in your correspondence.

Lastly, your targeted attack on individuals, many of whom were not even part of our group, raises significant GDPR concerns. By focusing on these individuals without valid reason, you are likely in violation of GDPR regulations concerning the improper use of personal data, especially given the sensitive nature of the reviews. The penalties for GDPR breaches are severe under Regulation (EU) 2016/679, and your actions should be reassessed immediately to avoid legal consequences.

In conclusion, the reviews posted are accurate, legally justified, and based on legitimate concerns. Any attempt to claim defamation or unfair competition, as you falsely suggest under Articles 595 and 2598 of the Italian Civil Code, is both unfounded and an attempt to silence truthful feedback. We are prepared to defend our rights in this matter, and any further escalation on your part will be met with a legal response.

We hope you take this opportunity to address the actual issues at hand—your unclean facilities and discriminatory practices—rather than attempting to intimidate those who simply...

We came late one evening for dinner. The cute cat logo had drawn us in. The inside of the restaurant was busy with patrons still finishing their meals at their tables, but the entire patio was empty. We sat down out there and requested menus. The place appeared cool and casual, but when we noticed how pricey the dinner menu was we made the decision to just have a glass of wine and make our way to another establishment. We had nothing against the prices, we just weren't planning on having a 100 euro dinner that night and nothing on the menu really spoke to us.

The service was strange from that point forward. First, as we ordered the wine we were told that we needed to move tables since the table we were sitting at, near the door, was apparently "for dinner only". I can assure you that not another soul sat outside at the roughly 5 or 6 available patio tables for the next hour. We got the message early on that we weren't good enough, even compared to the imaginary dinner patrons who needed our table. Next the complete lack of follow up, normal for Italy I'm aware but this was to the point of being ignored. I had to go inside to prompt payment. At that point the night was capped off by the staff behind the counter refusing to take my credit card, and brazenly recommending cash, for our admittedly small 18 euro bill, with a smirk on his face because of "taxes, etc." So I paid promptly paid in cash and kept the change.

Ultimately, I bought two glasses of wine at full price on an evening when the restaurant was dead and the patio was empty and seemed inviting, and quite frankly was treated with absolute contempt for it.

My worst and so far, only, poor service experience in Italy. It made the evening memorable in completely the wrong way. I have not had service staff treat me this way in years.

Good wine. Cute cat logo. Capable of treating paying customers like...