đ€Ż INCRĂVEL: Pizzeria Owner Goes Viral For His ‘Salty’ Replies To Harsh Online Reviews đČ
A pizzeria owner is serving up more than just pizza, heâs dishing out savage comebacks to people leaving bad reviews online about his eatery.
38-year-old Ali Cengiz, the owner of Sunnyside Sliced, a New York-style pizzeria in Mentone, Melbourne, went viral for his âsassyâ and âbrutalâ responses to negative Google reviews in early January 2026.
- Pizzeria owner Ali Cengiz went viral after firing back at harsh Google reviews with savage, sarcastic replies.
- While critics slammed his responses as unprofessional, supporters praised the clapbacks as refreshing, citing how people often overreact and leave bad reviews.
- The incident also ignited a debate around modern âbusiness etiquette,â with netizens questioning where owners should draw the line between professionalism and defending themselves.
âDeal with it, people, itâs no longer the âcustomer is always right,ââ wrote one supporter of Aliâs stance.
Ali Cengiz defended his Australian pizzeria and staff members against negative online reviews with savage responses
Image credits: Sunnyside Sliced â Mentone
After living in New York City for 10 years, Ali Cengiz opened his pizzeria in Mentone to bring the iconic flavors of the Big Apple to his home country.
Reportedly, he grew up in his familyâs pizzeria in Cranbourne, as his family has long been involved in the pizza industry.
When he opened his own location, his mother helped in the kitchen making home-style pasta dishes and still works there.
Image credits: sunrise
However, after multiple one-star reviews, Ali decided to fire back, saying the âline [was] crossed.â
Referring to his $9 giant slices and 18-inch pizzas priced between $40 and $60, one such negative review read, âExpensive ⊠itâs a bit outrageous. The NY is quite basic in flavour and texture, nothing special about the sauce.â
Defending the price point, the owner replied, âNo more pizza for you! Lifetime ban,â referencing a famous line from the sitcom Seinfeld.
The 38-year-oldâs viral responses included, âNo more pizza for you! Lifetime ban,â âIâll endeavour to change absolutely nothing,â and more
Image credits: basileimports4665
Another diner, who said the pizza was âon the pricey end, but not too bad,â while adding that Cengizâs shop had been âhyped up,â received the response, âI have considered your feedback and decided that you are sour.â
A third complaint read, âOverrated is an understatement and the service seriously needs correction. I left them with my $9 and walked away, they arenât worth even complaining to.â
âIâll pay you $9 for every step you take away from our store,â the 38-year-old quipped in a sarcastic reply.
Image credits: Google Reviews
Image credits: Google Reviews
When another customer claimed the pizza was âdry and chewy,â Cengiz fired back, âThank you for your feedback. Iâll endeavour to change absolutely nothing.â
Others complained, âGood looking but just that ⊠I got a very salty one⊠Service experience wasnât the best at all.â
Ali promptly replied, âThe pizza canât have been as salty as your review.â
Some diners even criticized the staff, calling them âdisappointing,â and wrote, âThe servers have a lot of attitude when they asked our opinion and didnât get the respond he expected. Would never go back.â
Image credits: basileimports4665
âThe same staff member you had an issue with has received countless praise. In this particular circumstance, I side with them. So long,â Cengiz responded bluntly.
However, that particular reply did not sit well with the customer, who clapped back, âWouldnât recommend anyone coming here as you canât take criticism or are willing to better yourselves or the business. I wish I could give negative stars and one star is way more than you ever deserve.â
Ali emphasized how negative and âdisrespectfulâ reviews can impact his staff and business when customers donât even give him âa chance to fix the issueâ
Image credits: Google Reviews
Image credits: Google Reviews
Aliâs approach to handling feedback left the internet divided, with many calling out what they perceived as poor âbusiness etiquette.â
One critic remarked, âThe business owner just sounds mean rather than actually addressing any of the complaints.â
A second added, âSometimes sassy responses to bad reviews can be funny. However these customers have legitimate concerns and the responses are disgusting.â
Image credits: sunrise
âIt sounds like the owner has tried to counter bad reviews with satire but I donât think theyâve stuck the landing.â
While his defenders quipped, âThe sass makes me want to fly to Melbourne just for that pizza. I donât care if itâs good or not. Good advertisement.â
Meanwhile, his defenders were quick to support him, writing, âIf people have an issue they should have the respect of telling the staff/owners before leaving a bad review, so the frustration makes sense even though the responses are a bit unhinged.â
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Speaking to news.com.au, Ali clarified that he is not against feedback but prefers it to be shared privately, such as via email or through a conversation with a manager.
He told the outlet, âIf someoneâs had a bad experience, I want to know so we can make it right. Thoughtful criticism helps us improve, and Iâll always engage with that respectfully.â
His actions sparked a heated conversation among netizens about proper âbusiness etiquetteâ and the right way for diners to leave feedback
Image credits: sunnysidesliced
âFor me, the line is crossed when a review stops being about the experience and starts becoming personal, misleading, or unfairly damaging â at that point itâs no longer constructive feedback, and I feel a responsibility to stand up for my team and the business.â
Speaking about the potential impact negative reviews can have on his staff, Cengiz added, âThe impact of that can be real â especially for the younger members of our team.â
âYou can be honest without being hurtful, and thatâs the standard I try to hold on both sides.â
Image credits: Sunnyside Sliced â Mentone
He further emphasized that âsometimes reviews feel disrespectful,â especially when customers donât even give the business âa chance to fix the issue.â
Reflecting on his passion for pizza and Sunnyside Sliced, Ali shared, âEveryone Iâve crossed paths with has been incredibly kind. Whether Iâm hauling dough into the lab at 11pm or meeting trades at 5am, I always get a few words of encouragement as the lift doors close.â
âItâs a journey worth sharing, one slice at a time.â
Despite the backlash, the pizza business appears to be thriving, with Ali set to open a second location in the Gasworks precinct of Newstead, Brisbane.
He is also planning a third location in Docklands, Melbourne, in the future.
âThe sass is hysterical but this is such poor form⊠Never seen anything like it,â one social media user wrote
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