Bondi restaurant apologizes to backpacker for insult

A popular Bondi restaurant apologized to an Italian backpacker for “embarrassing and offending” the woman for her choice of outfit.

North Bondi Fish was criticized on social media after refusing to attend Martina Corradi and her boyfriend on Thursday due to their “revealing” outfit.

Shocked and offended by the way she was treated, Ms Corradi posted about her experience on Facebook.

Since then, the restaurant has done a spectacular cartwheel, today issuing a public apology to Ms Corradi, who was wearing linen pants, high heels and a bralet top at the restaurant when she visited on Thursday.

On Saturday, North Bondi Fish general manager Gemma Swanson said the restaurant apologized to Corradi for the “error in judgment” and offered him a free meal, according to the Daily Mail.

“We have reviewed the incident and recognize that it was an error of judgment to ask Martina and her partner to leave the restaurant,” Swanson told the publication.

“Since then, we have contacted Martina, we apologize for the error in judgment, and we invite her and her partner to enjoy lunch or dinner with us.

“We maintain a casual dress code and it is clear that Martina should not have been asked to leave.

“As a result, we will retrain all of our staff and management in our protocols, including the dress code.

“We are proud to welcome everyone to enjoy the North Bondi Fish experience.”

The incident first attracted attention after Ms Corradi, who is a fitness model and personal trainer, posted on the Bondi Local Loop Facebook group to ask what people thought of the outfit and if it was inappropriate.

“I just want an outside opinion. Even because I felt very ashamed and offended at the same time,” she posted.

“We checked in and sat on the terrace outside in the sun. The waitress as soon as I sat down said that I was not well dressed and that it is not acceptable to stay in such a place.

“My boyfriend and I looked at her and we didn’t know what to say. We were shocked!”

Most people seemed to agree that there was nothing wrong with the outfit.

One woman wrote: “No, you look great, ESPECIALLY for the context of the Bondi Beach restaurant! And it’s silly if people take offense at a small sample of tit meat, if you were flat would they be okay with this look? I hate having to be conscious just because my boobs look great.

Another added: “Ridic, you look great; it would be inappropriate for the office but not for the beach restaurant.”

One woman even commented: “If you were a blonde Australian girl with a following on Instagram in that outfit, it would have been a different story.”

While some guessed her blouse looked too close to lingerie and was questioned by the staff, most agreed that the woman was treated unprofessionally (even if she violated the restaurant’s dress code).