A Sydney-based Italian restaurant is in a feud with the local council after a \u201cKaren\u201d complained over the noise the restaurant brings to the area. <\/p>\n
Angela Camardi, the owner of Mrs Pasta in Balmain, posted to TikTok to share the reality of her situation, where she revealed she now has to pay $15,000 to get her outdoor awning approved by Inner West Council. <\/p>\n
She explained that a nearby neighbour, a \u201cKaren\u201d, had complained to the council over the loud noises coming from the restaurant, particularly from the outside area, where Ms Camardi had installed an outdoor building structure to protect customers from the rain, wind, and debris falling from a pine tree above. <\/p>\n
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Ms Camardi suspects a nearby resident complained to the council after a 16-year-old\u2019s birthday party, where noise was coming from the back, which triggered the council to visit the Italian restaurant two months ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, as soon as he said that, I thought okay, like he said something about the awning and then a couple of weeks later, bang bang, knock at the door, council is here,\u201d Ms Camardi told news.com.au. <\/p>\n
Mrs Pasta constructed the structure in mid-2025 without any problems from neighbours or the council, until recently. <\/p>\n
But the owner did admit that the outdoor set up was not approved. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe did put it up illegally, I\u2019m not going to sit there and sugar-coat it,\u201d Ms Camardi also mentioned. <\/p>\n
She explains she did so to cover her customers from the pine cones falling from a massive pine tree that hangs above the outdoor dining area. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe kept it there because we\u2019ve got this big pine tree that makes that much mess, you know, all the pine sticks or whatever the fallen branches, they fall down now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe literally put it up, protection from this tree, from the wind, from the rain. At the end of the day, I need bums on seats. When you\u2019re paying how much money I\u2019m paying in rent to fill the restaurant.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s got the pine cones, which are dropping all the seeds.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the objection and council fee are \u201cridiculous\u201d, as she believes that all the other pubs and restaurants along Darling Street in Balmain do not get complaints, but a small business like hers, which is \u201ctrying to make ends meet and trying to make a living\u201d, gets slapped with a huge fee. <\/p>\n
The complaint didn\u2019t just stop at the outside awning. Once the council noticed her illegal demountable structure, they chimed into her kitchen, claiming her rangehood had not been approved either. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo now they\u2019ve hit me with, I have to get a private certifier, an engineer, whatever they call them, to come and approve that that rangehood is all to the specifications, which was here when I came into the place, mind you,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Her husband believes this will all cost them around $25,000. <\/p>\n
Ms Camardi and her family have been given a 30-day notice to pay the fee that the Inner West Council have given her.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, she will be forced to remove the structure, therefore inhibiting customers from sitting outside safely. <\/p>\n
Since posting to TikTok, there has been a lot of positive responses to the face of Mrs Pasta, Angela Camardi, with loyal followers offering support. <\/p>\n
\u201cShameful that the council spends their time ripping down small businesses instead of using their time to help build them up. Best of luck,\u201d one user commented. <\/p>\n
\u201cDonated, hope this helps! Best of luck, can\u2019t wait to come soon!\u201d another added. <\/p>\n
\u201cMoney hungry councils. No inspector charges $15k to look at something. Wishing you success with this issue,\u201d someone else shared. <\/p>\n
Whereas some followers were a bit unsympathetic with Ms Camardi\u2019s plea, with one user commenting, \u201cYou make your money love. Pay it\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree you need the awning and you problem-solved this situation, but why didn\u2019t you get it approved in the first place? You left yourself open to this risk and it\u2019s a bit unfair to shame the council for that?\u201d another user added. <\/p>\n
Mrs Pasta gained a huge social media following, particularly on TikTok<\/a>, for highlighting the restaurant as a homemade family owned business with food made with love.<\/p>\n Mrs Pasta and the family behind the business have set up a GoFundMe<\/a> to help them pay some of the fee. <\/p>\n News.com.au has reached out to Inner West Council for comment but did not receive a response. <\/p>\n