Toronto bakery scolds customer for ‘ridiculous’ one-star Google review

A Toronto bakery is clapping back after a customer left a bizarre one-star Google review.

Just months after taking over the space that once held Bakerrae x Chachalate, a local favourite bakery and chocolate shop, Upper Beaches Italian Bakery Anima Romana has already cemented itself as a neighbourhood staple in its own right.

Serving up goodies baked fresh daily, from donuts to sourdough, on top of gelato, panini and even pizza, the bakery is a go-to spot in the neighbourhood for quintessential Italian treats — though, according to a recent post by the bakery, not everyone seems to feel the same way.

On Oct. 14, bakery owners Sheila de Franco and Dulce Maria Del Risco Vidal, both master bakers from Italy, took to the business’ Facebook page to respond to a one-star Google review that they call “disgusting.”

The Google review as shared by Anima Romana Bakery.

“The owner is Roman but the employees unfortunately [have] nothing to do with Italy,” the review writes, giving the bakery an overall one-star review.

At first glance, the review, though a bizzare sentiment in a multi-cultural city of over 6 million, seems out of place, may seem innocent enough, but Anima Romana’s team were quick to call out the more insidious undercurrents that the review carries with it.

The bakery’s response to the review.

“In 2024 stupid razzist [sic] still exist! Gave us a 1 star review because our employees are not Italian! So what?” the bakery writes above a screenshot of the review, using the Italian word for racist to accuse the reviewer of discriminating against their staff.

“I can accept a 1 star review from people who don’t like our products because I do not [expect everybody] to like what we bake,” they add, “but ONLY BECAUSE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT FROM ITALY, IT IS RIDICOLOUS! SHAME ON YOU!”

Some of the bakery’s fans were quick to defend the bakery in the comments of the post.

“Why does it matter where the staff are from?” one person comments. “The products and service are excellent regardless!”

“That is truly disgusting as you said.. you have such a wonderful staff they are helpful friendly [and] always with a smile,” writes another.

At the time of publication, Anima Romana bakery boasts an overall 4.8-star rating on Google out of more than 200 reviews.