Kaprica Restaurateur Filmed Swearing at Customers

Earlier today, the Age released a video of Kaprica chef and restaurateur Pietro Barbagallo pulling a tablecloth out from under the plates on a group’s table at his Italian restaurant in Carlton.

“Get out of my fucking restaurant … It’s my house,” Barbagallo can be heard saying. He’s also shown telling the group to “get out” multiple times and pointing his index finger towards the party. Two witnesses who were outside the restaurant were later interviewed by the newspaper, saying they allegedly “saw a chair fly out the front door towards the customer”.

According to the Age, the incident occurred after a waitress agreed to replace a prawn pasta that the diners found “simply too spicy”.

The video was released as part of the paper’s broader investigation into Barbagallo. The Age says it interviewed 19 of Barbagallo’s current and former employees and alleges his “aggressive outbursts” go back decades.

The newspaper also published allegations by Carly Lauder, who was employed by Barbagallo in the early 2000s at I Carusi, a restaurant he founded and has since sold. Lauder alleges Barbagallo once threw a pizza peel at her head. She also alleges he once offered her champagne and cocaine before exposing himself to her.

“He disappeared then returned shaking his dick in everyone’s face,” Lauder told the Age. “That was the only time he took his clothes off, but he made lewd disgusting sexual gestures towards all of us all the time. It was way before #MeToo. None of us ever thought to push back.”

Barbagallo did not respond to Broadsheet ’s request for comment.

If you’ve been the victim of sexual harassment in a hospitality workplace or witnessed an incident, read activist Jamie Bucirde’s advice on navigating the situation.

If you would like to speak with someone about an experience you have had, or would like more information, please call 1800Respect on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au.

You can also alert Broadsheet to misbehaviour of any kind in the hospitality industry via report@broadsheet.com.au. We cannot act on specific tips, but your valuable information may inform future coverage.