An Italian restaurant’s teenage waiter went white after a manager found what was allegedly written on a tourist’s receipt

A Brazilian tourist visiting Victor Lab in Romagna, Italy, allegedly discovered a message printed on her receipt instructing kitchen staff to “burn the eggs and spit in them.” As detailed by Ladbible, the tourist, Maria Clara, had politely asked for her scrambled eggs to be cooked a bit more before the alleged note surfaced.

Clara said the waiter’s response to her request was rude, and he reportedly claimed the restaurant doesn’t serve raw eggs. Her plate also arrived with a side salad she had not ordered. She initially chose not to raise the issue further, but her view of the situation changed once she noticed the note on the receipt.

Clara and her group at first wondered whether the message was a dark joke, but grew concerned their food may have actually been tampered with. They said they were initially told no manager was on site, and that when one did appear, the waiter allegedly “went white” and became “very nervous.” Clara claims the waiter then tried to throw the receipt in the bin, and the group had to stop him and warn they would call the police if he continued.

The restaurant claims the waiter was a teenager who had worked there for two weeks

The waiter eventually apologized, claiming the note was a joke between him and the chef. Victor Lab addressed the incident publicly after a negative review appeared on Google, stating the employee involved was 17 years old and had been at the restaurant for two weeks. The restaurant said the behavior did not reflect its standards, canceled the group’s bill, and offered complimentary items, which were reportedly declined.

Under Article 440 of the Italian Criminal Code, corrupting or adulterating food in a way that endangers public health can carry significant legal penalties, including imprisonment, according to Brocardi.it. Italian law treats food tampering as a criminal matter regardless of intent behind the act.

On August 22, the restaurant posted a TikTok video that appeared to depict a customer ordering a meal containing “spit,” drawing further criticism online. Clara said she has since faced racist abuse and death threats after the story went viral, and that other people online have since claimed to have had similar experiences.

Victor Lab has received a wave of negative reviews on Google since the incident, though some five-star reviews have also been posted in response.