The chef of a popular Asian restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale claims he's more than $1 million in the hole thanks to what he says is an out-of-control former city inspector, and has filed a lawsuit claiming he's the victim of racism.
Chef Zhi Yu Lui has multiple restaurants in New York and one in Sunny Isles, but said a now-former building inspector in Fort Lauderdale held up the opening of Red Door Asian Bistro & Hibachi for more than a year, unfairly citing him for equipment the inspector said wasn't up to par.
"Something happened. Just like they hold me a day, two days, a day again, again, again, everyday coming they have a new story, new building code, they find my hood, my Hibachi, always something new when they show every day," Lui told NBC 6.
The chef filed a lawsuit in federal court against the city and the former inspector, Robert Gonzalez, claiming he spent more than $1 million because of the unnecessary delays. He also claims his civil rights were violated.
"Because I am Asian maybe," Lui said.
To make matters worse, Lui said someone vandalized the restaurant and shattered a window early Sunday morning. Nevertheless, he said his team is plowing ahead after finally opening in the spring.
"They turned his dream into a living hell," said Lui's attorney, Michael Pizzi. "There is no explanation for [the inspector's] conduct except inappropriate racial animus and a personal agenda. Everything he cited turned out to be completely bogus and totally fabricated, it was all a fraud."
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The attorneys for both the City of Fort Lauderdale and Gonzalez declined to speak on television about the allegations but denied all of Lui's claims and said they've asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit. The city called the claims baseless.
