Paciugo Gelato & Caffè — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

In my experience, the employees lack integrity and restraint.

In or about December, 2021, I made an unfortunate decision to leave my number with a member of Paciugo's St. Pete franchise staff.

As I would later find out, the staff member in question was 16 years of age. I am 24, for reference.

As I would also later find out, she later conveyed to her colleagues that I left my number, but also that I said stated "I don't care about your age". My regret at leaving my number with a member of Paciugo's serving staff notwithstanding, these words nor anything of the sort ever came from my mouth. I simply left my number scrawled on a piece of paper accompanied by the verbal question "drinks?" I very obviously had no idea her age and certainly little idea of her character, which should enjoin me to cease such absent-minded feats in the future.

Fast forward to the 20th of January 2022 and I am walking along Beach Drive. A white male is hanging out on Fareham Place as it adjoins Beach Drive. He calls me over, into a scant-lit portion of Fareham Place, and I ignore him. He then proceeds to tail me and commence a verbal onslaught outside Ceviche. He states - amongst vulgarities - that I attempted to have sex with an underage girl, knowing that she was underage, and stated my knowledge as such in the proposition. This, from leaving my number with someone who appeared to be but a few years my junior.

I should have ignored him and continued, but as it is I cannot stand blatant misrepresentations. So, I stated very simply that he was wrong and he was 'an idiot'. Quite measured in my estimation. He then proposes that I punch him. I refuse.

He then does a wide swing on me, hits my left jaw, and waits for me to react. I give him no reaction other than a reiteration that he was an idiot, and walk in the direction from which I came.

Thirty minutes later, I return walking northbound on Beach Drive. This time, I am greeted by the white male outside Paciugo itself. He shows signs of intoxication and abruptly walks over to me on a public sidewalk to confront me yet a second time.

He states that it is the "fifth time" that he has "warned [me]" and proceeds to talk whilst spit is coming from his mouth onto my face, amid a Pandemic. I tell him once more that he is misinformed and that I will be on my way.

Upon returning to Paciugo on the 23rd of January, the good reasons for which I am uncertain other than that their Pistachio is quite addicting, I find out that the white male in question is an employee of Paciugo.

I am also asked by the manager for a word, and it is quietly uttered to me that I proposed relations with an underage woman (I did no such thing) and that in future I will no longer be welcome and that in the event I disregard such advice, Police will be called for.

No mention whatsoever of stalking, verbal abuse, and battery by Paciugo St. Pete staff.

So again I come back to, lack of integrity...

I've always loved this place and was excited to bring my friend last night because the staff are always super nice and well, it's always fun getting Gelato! Unfortunately, I had to apologize to my friend because of the behavior of the guy who was the tallest of the three workers. He was incredibly rude to both us and the people who came in before us. He passive aggressively ordered the people in front of us out of the building instead of politely asking them to not linger since there's no indoor dining. He, again passive aggressively and in a rude tone, ordered me to the counter since I was standing a few feet back from my friend who was still picking his Gelato out. There were zero customers anywhere else in the shop (no wonder) so it wasn't to keep a line moving. After moving up I said I was still trying to choose and he in what had to be the most sarcastic tone he could muster said "well it's easier to decide if you stand here isn't it?" When I left without buying anything because I just couldn't handle his nastiness, I had to double check with both my friend and the guys who were ahead of us that I wasn't going crazy. They had far harsher words than I've...

Both my father and I got the cappuccino gelato dairy free flavor and we both got severe food poisoning an hour after. Very disappointing!!! I did write this review before calling the store. I gave them my information and the manager Debbie called me back within 30 minutes. I explained everything and she reassured me that the coconut milk was not expired. She did refund my money. She sent me a picture of the actual coconut milk label with the expiration date being in 2025. She also mentioned that the reason why I got food poisoning is not because of the contamination, but because of this chemical that’s in a dairy free ice cream, which is called arithritol. I find it very hard to believe that a chemical like that would give both myself and my father 4 to 5 hours of projectile diarrhea. I’m grateful to God that my daughter did not come with us. Otherwise she would have ended up in the hospital from dehydration by consuming this contaminated ice cream. Lastly, I’m extremely disappointed that this happened because everything looks so delicious. I believe the staff and management should work on making sure everything is up to par and nothing is...