Credit: Darla Khazei/INSTARimages
Gia Giudice‘s new restaurant, Il Vero, is speaking out amid its controversial no-children policy and poor reviews.
After being slammed for refusing to serve families at the Bergen County, New Jersey, establishment, Gia’s business partner, Maria Sausa, doubled down on the adults-only atmosphere they created at their venue, noting that it was “intentional.”
“Our decision to create an adults-only dining experience at IL Vero was intentional,” Maria told Daily Voice on October 16. “There are many wonderful family-friendly restaurants in the area, and we think that’s fantastic. However, we wanted to offer something different … [and] we stand firmly behind the vision we created.”
According to Maria, she and her team wanted Il Vero to be an upscale setting where adults could dress up with their friends or enjoy a romantic evening with their partners.
“Both concepts can exist, and neither needs to be criticized simply for being different,” she stated.
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In a one-star Google review shared earlier this month, one person revealed they’d been kicked out of Il Vero after arriving at the restaurant with babies in strollers.
“The GM then comes over and says they don’t allow kids…at all…anywhere in the restaurant…at any time. and we were asked to LEAVE,” the reviewer stated.
Others complained about spending $100 for four drinks, $73 for three drinks, and $10 for a water charge.
Still, Maria felt that most of the online feedback comes down to personal preferences.
“We absolutely believe constructive feedback has value. We are always willing to listen and improve where necessary. However, there is a difference between genuine, constructive criticism and criticism simply because a restaurant offers something that doesn’t align with someone’s personal preferences,” she noted, signaling to Il Vero’s four- and five-star Google reviews and social media support.
“It seems that today, everyone wants to be a food critic, and social media has made it easy to judge an entire establishment based on one experience or one personal opinion,” she continued. “Not every restaurant is going to be for every person, and that doesn’t automatically mean the restaurant is doing something wrong. Sometimes, it simply means it isn’t the right fit.”
On Instagram, after it was revealed that people were complaining about Il Vero’s no-children policy, several commenters defended the restaurant.
“People are writing 2 star reviews of no children policy? I’m going out to eat to get away from my kids lmao. I don’t want yours at the table next to me,” one person stated.
“It’s her restaurant her policy if it doesn’t sit well with someone just don’t go,” another advised.
Meanwhile, a couple of others expressed disdain for the policy.
“Any type of exclusion is wrong especially in a world where everyone started out as a baby … I resent any place that cannot accommodate mothers with children but that’s just me. You’re entitled to a child free life not world,” someone shared.
“Westwood is a family town, aka a town where a vast majority of people have kids. The establishment just doesn’t match the environment,” another noted.