At GetReviewAI, reviews are our business, so when we came across this story, we just had to share. It’s about a little Italian restaurant called Botto Bistro that took the classic lemons-to-lemonade approach—and it’s brilliant.

So here’s what happened: Botto Bistro, a small spot in Richmond, California, ran into some serious frustration with Yelp. You know how Yelp encourages businesses to buy ads? Well, Botto’s owners, Davide Cerretini and Michele Massimo, were fed up with it. Instead of caving, they decided to do something completely unexpected: they asked customers to leave 1-star reviews. Yup, you heard that right—Botto Bistro wanted the bad reviews and even offered discounts to anyone who left one. Wild, right?

But there was a method to the madness. The owners noticed that people are naturally curious about negative reviews; it’s like we’re wired to want to see the dirt, even if it’s only a small percentage of the feedback. So they leaned into it, asking regulars to leave funny, playful 1-star reviews that secretly showed love for the place and took jabs at Yelp.

Before long, the Botto Bistro Yelp page was full of “bad” reviews that read more like inside jokes. Here are a couple of gems:

“⭐ The food here is so authentic it’ll make you realize you’ve never had real Italian before. I now can’t go back to Olive Garden. Thanks a lot, Botto Bistro!”

And another classic:

“⭐ I had to wait a whole five minutes for my pizza because they were making it fresh. Absolutely ridiculous!”

These “1-star” reviews caught everyone’s attention. Instead of scaring people off, they actually drew customers in. People loved the restaurant’s humor and their bold stand against Yelp. Botto Bistro’s playful rebellion even gained national media attention, and curious diners started showing up just to see what all the fuss was about.

This wasn’t just a marketing win; it was a statement. Botto Bistro showed that sometimes, going against the grain can set you apart in a big way. In an industry where everyone chases 5-star reviews, they leaned into a handful of 1-stars and turned it into a goldmine.

Takeaway? Maybe your next marketing move shouldn’t be about perfect ratings but about being real and standing out. Because, hey, if it worked for Botto Bistro, maybe doing something a little different will work for you too.

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