A recent lawsuit claims that the manager of Savta, a popular West Village restaurant, groped two female employees, exposing them to harassment that included inappropriate comments and even showing homemade adult videos.
Angela Vitanza, 25, and Carmen di Iorio, 23, allege that general manager Santiago Parejo relentlessly harassed them during their time at the establishment in 2024, which has since closed.
The lawsuit indicates that Parejo allegedly grabbed Vitanza inappropriately, pulled down her clothing, and showed her a sexual video of herself, asking her if she would go to his hotel room. These details emerged from a complaint filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court on June 3.
Vitanza claimed that after she attempted to send a message to the restaurant’s founder, Vincent Benoriel, regarding Parejo’s behavior, he forwarded it to Parejo. She faced retaliation from Parejo later that same day.
After this incident, she expressed a desire to transfer to a different restaurant, Pasta Corner, but was informed by a bartender that the move was no longer an option, which she viewed as retaliatory action.
Meanwhile, di Iorio described her own troubling experiences, noting that Parejo touched her without consent every day and made lewd remarks. She eventually resigned from her position, fabricating an excuse about job requirements to avoid backlash.
Parejo is currently listed as a Senior Manager at Savta’s new outpost in Los Angeles, which has recently gained recognition as one of the city’s best new restaurants.
Despite being let go, the lawsuit asserts that Parejo continued to receive a paycheck and managed staff issues at a New York City location even after he was purportedly fired.
The complaint seeks unspecified damages and names Savta, Parejo, and Benoriel as defendants, accusing them of sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of state and local human rights laws.
Neither Parejo, Benoriel, nor the restaurant offered comments in response to the allegations, and the plaintiffs did not provide statements either.
