A customer has been left shocked by the response of a restaurant owner who launched a brutal attack on him after he left a one-star review on the establishment's Facebook page.

Gideon Marisa, a former MasterChef contestant, visited HeadQuarters Viaduct bar in on a Sunday afternoon with some friends and was unimpressed with the service.

When the restaurant's Facebook page popped up on his Facebook news feed while he was on holiday in Fiji a few weeks later, the food-enthusiast decided to post his review.

Gideon Marisa, a former MasterChef contestant, visited HeadQuarters Viaduct bar on a Sunday afternoon with some friends and was unimpressed with the service so left a review

Shortly after Mr Marisa received a direct message to his private inbox from owner Leo Molloy which was the start of an unpleasant exchange between the two

'It's a pity as the venue has potential but is let down tremendously by pure sloppiness,' he wrote under his Facebook name 'Gidz Khalifa' (pictured Gideon Marisa)

Mr Marisa rated the Auckland restaurant just one star out of five because of the 'terrible service' he experienced and claimed none of the staff 'knew what they were doing'.

'It's a pity as the venue has potential but is let down tremendously by pure sloppiness,' he wrote under his Facebook name 'Gidz Khalifa'.

Shortly after Mr Marisa received a direct message to his private inbox from owner Leo Molloy which was the start of an unpleasant exchange between the two.

Firstly, Mr Molloy asked for more details about the experience to which Mr Marisa replied as he is on holiday he would prefer to offer further insight at a later time.

Respectfully Mr Molloy said 'Roger that.' Hours later Mr Molloy followed up with another message, questioning whether Mr Marisa even visited the bar.

Mr Marisa then offered a full explanation of how he came to post the review while on holiday and outlined his issues

He went through each of the problems he experienced with staff, the seating and the drink

Mr Marisa was on holiday in Fiji when he was contacted by the restaurant owner

The response caused Mr Molloy to defend his establishment

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia Mr Molloy confirmed he had reached out to Mr Marisa following the poor review

He follows up his long message with: 'Try to find something you actually know something about or desist from your toxic drivel'

Mr Marisa responds by saying he tried to be diplomatic and will go to the media

'Gidz can you help me understand why no staff remember you or your bad day at HQ (we've circulated your photo),' he said in a lengthy statement which also questioned what Mr Marisa 'actually does for a living?'

Mr Marisa then offered a full a full explanation of how he came to post the review while on holiday and outlined his issues.

The response caused Mr Molloy to defend his establishment.

He follows up his long message with: 'Try to find something you actually know something about or desist from your toxic drivel.'

Mr Marisa argues he tried to be diplomatic but said: 'If this is actually the way you deal with a bad review I'm left with an odd taste in my mouth.'

Mr Molloy continued to message Mr Marisa despite being told he don't not want to continue in conversation

Mr Marisa sends the bar owner a video of the tropical surroundings in Fiji but is met with an angry response

Mr Molloy went on to send the former MasterChef contestant a steady stream of messages after he had been contacted by media

He then says he has a record of the conversation to be passed on to a New Zealand media outlet. Mr Marisa instead contacted Daily Mail Australia.

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia Mr Molloy confirmed he had reached out to Mr Marisa following the poor review.

'He made a lot of comments that had no basis or facts, clearly there were holes in his story.' Mr Molloy said Mr Marisa had been unable to identify when he actually came in.

He said he did an internet search for the complainants name 'to find out if he was a credible food critic or not' and claims Mr Marisa has between 10 - 20 other reviews for different restaurants, including a Subway.

He acknowledged staff had been made of aware of an issue with which menu he could order from.

Mr Molloy told DMA he did an internet search for the complainants name 'to find out if he was a credible food critic or not'