Venya Bistro

I rarely leave negative reviews, but what I witnessed today was disturbing enough that I feel other customers should know about it. While sitting at the bar, I had a clear view of the kitchen and the final plating area. I watched the chef responsible for finishing and serving dishes repeatedly touch her face and mouth area during service and then immediately continue handling food with her bare hands. I also personally witnessed her biting (eating) her nails and then returning to handle food without washing or sanitizing her hands, although unfortunately I was not able to capture that specific moment on video. I did record video of her handling food with her bare hands after touching her face. I watched her touch focaccia, vegetables, and other ingredients that were being served directly to customers. This is not a matter of preference or restaurant style. Basic hygiene standards exist for a reason. Watching someone touch their face, put their fingers near their mouth, and then continue handling customers’ food without washing their hands completely destroyed my confidence in this restaurant. As for the food, it was fine. Not exceptional, not terrible. But no meal is good enough to compensate for poor hygiene practices. After what I saw today, I will not be returning. A restaurant can recover from average food. It cannot recover from customers losing trust in its hygiene standards.