A restaurant in France has faced controversy after Aussies spotted its striking resemblance to a popular Australian eatery.
Totti, an Italian restaurant based in Paris, shares several notable parallels with Justin Hemmes’ Totti’s – a Merivale chain with Italian cuisine and locations in Bondi, Rozelle, Sydney’s CBD and now Lorne in Victoria.
The French ‘cut copy’ was spotted by famous Australian Instagram account Miss Double Bay, who called the similarities between both restaurants ‘uncanny’.
The account shared several comparison images, including the restaurants’ very similar menus and logos.
‘I noticed that we have a doppelgänger in our midst: Totti (without ‘s’), an Italian restaurant in Paris. The like4like is UNCANNY,” she wrote.
A restaurant in France has faced controversy after Aussies spotted its striking resemblance to a popular Australian eatery. Pictured (left): Entrance to Totti restaurant in Paris, Totti’s restaurant entrance in Bondi
‘Not to mention the misleading nature of their IG account (@totti.restaurant), where even my girl @jackieo_official accidentally tagged the wrong location. @merivale puts the lawyers on standby.’
Merivale’s Totti’s menu, created by Chef Mike Eggert, offers a range of Italian dishes from pasta, antipasti and the famous ‘puffy’ wood-fired bread.
Although French Totti does not have puffed bread on their menu, it does have garlic and olive oil bread, as well as several similar dishes such as burrata, schnitzel and tiramisu.
Totti, an Italian restaurant based in Paris, bears a striking resemblance to Justin Hemmes’ Totti’s – a Merivale chain with Italian cuisine and locations in Bondi, Rozelle, Sydney’s CBD and now Lorne in Victoria
The French ‘cut copy’ was spotted by famous Australian Instagram account Miss Double Bay, who called the similarities between both restaurants ‘uncanny’. Pictured: food and drinks at Totti’s Bondi
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson confronted the Parisian restaurant that looks almost identical to a famous Australian chain.
On Tuesday, the radio duo took their radio show an extra step by contacting the doppelgänger restaurant to give them a call.
“It’s here in Australia. Are you from the same company?’ Kyle pressured an employee.
Merivale’s Totti’s menu, created by Chef Mike Eggert, offers a range of Italian dishes from pasta, antipasti and the famous ‘puffy’ wood-fired bread. Pictured here are their famous veal schnitzel (left) and tiramisu (right)
Even the menu is ‘creepy’; Totti in Paris also serves schnitzel and tiramisu
“Oh no, we’re not actually the same company,” the employee replied.
“But the logo is exactly the same, the fonts of the logo, are you sure it’s not the same?” Kyle continued, to which the man replied, “I’m sure we’re not the same.”
The staff member revealed that the Parisian restaurant would open in 2022, while Totti’s first opened in Bondi, Sydney, in 2018.
Although French Totti does not have puffed bread on its menu, it does have garlic-olive oil bread on its menu. It also offers antipasti dishes such as burrata
Justin Hemmes (left), CEO of Merivale and Totti’s owner, has now been made aware of the copycat restaurant. Pictured with Daniel Ricciardo (right) at Bar Totti’s in Sydney’s CBD
He also noted that his boss had “never been to Sydney”, let alone heard of the iconic Merivale chain.
Jackie also said she accidentally tagged the imitation restaurant while enjoying the culinary delights at Totti’s Bondi.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Justin Hemmes and his representatives for comment.
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson confronted the Parisian restaurant that looks almost identical to a famous Australian chain. Pictured: Merivale Totti’s Instagram account
The Totti employee told Kyle and Jackie O that his boss had “never been to Sydney”, let alone heard of the iconic Merivale chain. In the photo: the French Totti Instagram page
Jackie also said she accidentally tagged the French restaurant while enjoying the culinary delights at Totti’s Bondi
Merivale CEO and Totti’s owner Hemmes has now been informed about the copycat restaurant.
“Don’t they say that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?’” he said Good food magazine.
“I’m not sure I agree with that.”
