8 Filtered Reviews of Level Up
The reviews below were either questionable or violated our site terms. They therefore are not factored into this business's overall star rating.
Check out the Review Guidelines | Review Removal.
The owner is a pedophile
6 girls between the ages of 10-19 came up accusing the owner of this restaurant of grooming and raping them. There is a criminal investigation underway. Some of these girls were groomed by being employed illegally to work for his business. I went to this place a few times, food is okay. They've changed the name to "next level" now. Please don't go to this restaurant and don't support this monster with your hard earned money!
Cons: Owner raped at least 6 girls
The owner of this restaurant is a pedophile. Stop going here.
They’ve chaged the name of the restaurant because of the scandal (the name is now Next Level). We’re ethical vegans so I assume that we all care about this. This man has been accused of rape by 6 girls aged between 10-19. It appeared in the press a few days ago. Please stop supporting this man financially. He groomed children. I think that happycow didn’t let me post this review at first, which, if that’s what happened it would be sad. Vegans deserve to know when their purchase supports a rapist. The actual food in the restaurant is ok, I’ve been a few times but I am never coming back.
Updated from previous review on 2023-01-21
Pros: Food’s okay
Cons: Owner is a groomer, Owner is a rapist, Owner violated children
Bad place to go. Owner is under accusation for rape and forced labour
It should just close as soon as possible
Owner of restaurant is a pedo
Please don't eat or drink here, don't support his actions.
Cons: The owner of the restaurant is a pedophile rapist, Don't eat at this restaurant, Don't support his actions
Junk
The owner was sexyally exploting underaged girls, that worked for him.
The ingredients they use are low quality, the bread buns are awful.
The staff îs rude.
Please do not support this place
Updated from previous review on 2023-05-03
Cons: Low quality ingredients, Rude staff , Crappy food
Tourist trap
I truly wanted to support what I thought was a vegan business, so I gave this place multiple chances. I tried to see the laid back attitude at the restaurant as charming and did my best to ignore the sticky tables and menus and the overall lack of cleanliness. The stairs to the underground sitting area are a real hazard and I saw people trip and fall on them. Everytime I ordered polenta, the sour cream was strangely sweet and the amaranth roe was always spoiled. Most people still impressed with this restaurant seem to be foreigners, as locals have finally learned to expect better, while foreigners probably are easier to get tricked by the apparent “bohemian” attitude and don’t get to visit enough times to get the real picture. Foreigners, please ask any local vegan and they will likely warn you against this place.
This business is not vegan, as it is owned by an alleged groomer
As a Romanian seeing so many foreign tourists visit this establishment is extremely sad.
I strongly urge anyone visiting Bucharest to skip this restaurant as the owner is currently being accused and under investigation for abusing minors.
I also urge HappyCow staff to reconsider listing this restaurant!
Links to different sources of the accusations of sexual abuse
https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/investigatie-ademenita-in-timpul-unei-excursii-cu-clasa-m-am-simtit-mai-mult-fortata-tu-nu-ai-avut-consimtamantul-meu-pentru-asta-4419277
https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/perchezitii-diicot-in-cazul-activistului-vegan-acuzat-de-abuz-sexual-cu-minore-la-aproape-doua-luni-dupa-ce-cazul-a-fost-dezvaluit-intr-o-investigatie-libertatea-4475870
https://ziare.com/alexandru-marcu/activist-vegan-bucuresti-alexandru-marcu-abuz-sexual-minore-1783802
Cons: owner
grrrlbrarian
Thank you for sharing this information - I am planning a holiday to Bucharest and I will not visit this restaurant now!
m4r14
Thank you for sharing this! I left reviews with the same information but it got deleted from both HappyCow and Google Maps.
stephanie.a
These are old fake news with no follow up whatsoever. They always try to hit vegan places and good people with these kind of news all over the world. I specifically checked out now and there was no follow up.
raisam
Points +69
Food is worth more than the occasional issues - Edit
LATER EDIT, since my review is recent and visible: the restaurant owner is under investigation for paedophilia cases (plus the community is small enough to do a decent information fact-check). No foods, nor benefits to the vegan market, nor job creation in the domain are worth the possibility of financing the side activities of such an individual.
Read moreOrigunal review: Despite some issues with the service and the dirty table covers and the small space, the food is so amazing 95%, and there are so many options, that it's worth it.
Updated from previous review on 2023-01-25
Pros: Amazing food with small exceptions, Variety, Totally vegan restaurant
Cons: The plastic table covers are very dirty and sticky, Sometimes issues with the service, Very small space
Guest