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Google removes restaurant review that focused on employee's face

A restaurant review that complained about the appearance of a female employee's face has been removed by Google after her co-workers brought their story to CBC.

Workers at California Sandwiches, located at 3701 Chesswood Dr., contacted CBC frustrated by a Google review they say crossed the line and amounted to a personal attack on Carmella Ciccone, a beloved 20-year employee.

The review was posted last week by someone identifying himself as Jeff Chambers. In addition to complaining about a steak sandwich, the reviewer also said the worker who served him had a "very nauseating face."

Those comments prompted Christopher Bernaudo, who works with Ciccone and describes her as "practically like another mother," to convince the tech giant to remove the post.

Bernaudo cited Google guidelines that prohibit "reviews that represent personal attacks on others."

Although the review didn't mention Ciccone by name, employees of the popular Italian-style sandwich shop said anyone who knows her, including regulars and other employees, would know who the review was about.

One day after CBC's Stephanie Matteis wrote the story, Google contacted the shop to tell them the review had been taken down.

"I want to thank you and CBC for feeling that the issue was something that needed attention," wrote Bernaudo in an email sent to CBC this morning. "I'm happy progress was made thanks to you, but very disappointed that these were the measures that needed to be taking just to do what was right and just."