A Review of Restaurant Reviews
Jake Joy asked:
Restaurant food critics can be a valuable tool when choosing an eatery. In March 2008 the entire restaurant review industry came under scrutiny from court case arising from a brutal but honest review of Belfastian pizzeria Goodfellas by the Irish News, the review which criticised the food, staff and atmosphere led to the restaurant being awarded £25,000 in libel damages. This decision went somewhat unnoticed by many, however its outcome could have changed review writing, opening the door for companies to take action when they feel they have been unfairly ‘done over’ by a review. However, upon appeal the case decision was overturned on the basis that the original jury was unfairly guided by the judge.
This case has brought to light many questions as to the relevance and validity of reviews; the main being that a review is a persons personal opinion it is not a qualified nor a mediated evaluation- it could be said that to curtail reviews would be to limit a persons freedom to speech, further to this, as unfairly as it is a review published is often tailored to the magazine and its readership expectations- the New York Times food critic reviewer is renowned for being tough yet is this their true opinions or do they go with the most fashionable option or what is expected? When in fact their favourite nosh secretly comes from the Hard Rock Café? Looking at reviewers who perhaps give out too good reviews; suspicion would lead me to think that opinions are swayed by advertisers and investors.
Reviewers should not be influenced by any external factors their job is to act as an independent ombudsman of sorts providing advice and guidance on where we should dine. From all the press coverage of the ‘Goodfellas case’ there seems to be a total disregard for the benefit readers got from the review, the words may have been excessive but the fact remained that the food was unsatisfactory according to the critic.
If you go online there is abundance of blogs that can give you a variety of restaurant reviews, online reviews are a useful tool for obtaining a perhaps more varied and honest review; the reasoning for this being that often bloggers are not swayed by advertisers nor limited by their readers demographics. Much like the newspapers and magazines, it will be one person who is writing the review but people can add to it, posting comments about their own experience with a restaurant. Once a restaurant review blog gains popularity and people are regularly leaving comments then it becomes a valuable resource for varied and honest opinions. As people are attending the restaurant socially rather than with the sole purpose of reviewing it the result will be different experience altogether and the retelling of their experience, for example taking their four children into a quiet bistro, may be of relevance to someone considering going with their own children. Therefore restaurant review blogs are very different to the reviews you read in the papers; and overall more useful.
Restaurant food critics can be a valuable tool when choosing an eatery. In March 2008 the entire restaurant review industry came under scrutiny from court case arising from a brutal but honest review of Belfastian pizzeria Goodfellas by the Irish News, the review which criticised the food, staff and atmosphere led to the restaurant being awarded £25,000 in libel damages. This decision went somewhat unnoticed by many, however its outcome could have changed review writing, opening the door for companies to take action when they feel they have been unfairly ‘done over’ by a review. However, upon appeal the case decision was overturned on the basis that the original jury was unfairly guided by the judge.
This case has brought to light many questions as to the relevance and validity of reviews; the main being that a review is a persons personal opinion it is not a qualified nor a mediated evaluation- it could be said that to curtail reviews would be to limit a persons freedom to speech, further to this, as unfairly as it is a review published is often tailored to the magazine and its readership expectations- the New York Times food critic reviewer is renowned for being tough yet is this their true opinions or do they go with the most fashionable option or what is expected? When in fact their favourite nosh secretly comes from the Hard Rock Café? Looking at reviewers who perhaps give out too good reviews; suspicion would lead me to think that opinions are swayed by advertisers and investors.
Reviewers should not be influenced by any external factors their job is to act as an independent ombudsman of sorts providing advice and guidance on where we should dine. From all the press coverage of the ‘Goodfellas case’ there seems to be a total disregard for the benefit readers got from the review, the words may have been excessive but the fact remained that the food was unsatisfactory according to the critic.
If you go online there is abundance of blogs that can give you a variety of restaurant reviews, online reviews are a useful tool for obtaining a perhaps more varied and honest review; the reasoning for this being that often bloggers are not swayed by advertisers nor limited by their readers demographics. Much like the newspapers and magazines, it will be one person who is writing the review but people can add to it, posting comments about their own experience with a restaurant. Once a restaurant review blog gains popularity and people are regularly leaving comments then it becomes a valuable resource for varied and honest opinions. As people are attending the restaurant socially rather than with the sole purpose of reviewing it the result will be different experience altogether and the retelling of their experience, for example taking their four children into a quiet bistro, may be of relevance to someone considering going with their own children. Therefore restaurant review blogs are very different to the reviews you read in the papers; and overall more useful.
Ingredients for Great London Restaurant Guide
October 29, 2009 by admin
Filed under Restaurant Reviews
Aditi Miscall asked:
Take one New York woman send her to London to work, make her go cold turkey to remove the last trace of Little Debbies and hot dogs. Then re-invent her as a fully certified food enthusiast and then get her to start a successful London restaurant review.
Over the last four years Londonelicious has become the quintessential light hearted guide to everything foodie in the great smogopolis. The blogs logo reads like an advertisement in the lonely hearts column of the Evening Standard “American girl, loves food, and London, but not cooking”
The about me section of the blog includes a confession that she started visiting London’s restaurants as a way to get out and explore the real London, and meet the locals, and discover the food.
She was over-powered with enthusiasm for the great and awful London restaurant’s she found on her travels around the corners of the capital. Eventually she decided to let others find out about her discoveries, she started up her own London restaurant guide to delicious London and Londonelicious was born.
The momentous task of telling the world about every last little eating place in London was obviously too much for one stomach and two typing fingers so other London Restaurant enthusiasts began to join her online world.
Before long there were many food-nuts writing their own opinionated opinions of all things eating out with a fun, clear and concise London Restaurant Guide that goes where others fear to tread.
There are page after page of wonderful London restaurant reviews that step outside of the usual way of looking at the cities eating places. Anywhere that has a table and food may be included, ok they don’t all have tables.
Reviewers have visited hundreds of establishments from the very trendiest Sunday Times must eat places to little London restaurants and café’s that other critics have never heard of.
Sometimes the intrepid bloggers wish they had never “discovered” some of these dubious food backwaters. But all the disappointment is worth the effort when real undiscovered London restaurant gold is struck.
The team are all of the same view, they like food and love searching for new food experiences. They are all amateurs, but they are accomplished amateurs, people who just like eating out and enjoying an evening of food delights.
You can join in their travels though the cobbled back alleyways and hip reception areas of the London’s most exiting and interesting foodie haunts. They leave no stone unturned or bottle of wine uncorked in their efforts to share the excitement that is London eating.
Take one New York woman send her to London to work, make her go cold turkey to remove the last trace of Little Debbies and hot dogs. Then re-invent her as a fully certified food enthusiast and then get her to start a successful London restaurant review.
Over the last four years Londonelicious has become the quintessential light hearted guide to everything foodie in the great smogopolis. The blogs logo reads like an advertisement in the lonely hearts column of the Evening Standard “American girl, loves food, and London, but not cooking”
The about me section of the blog includes a confession that she started visiting London’s restaurants as a way to get out and explore the real London, and meet the locals, and discover the food.
She was over-powered with enthusiasm for the great and awful London restaurant’s she found on her travels around the corners of the capital. Eventually she decided to let others find out about her discoveries, she started up her own London restaurant guide to delicious London and Londonelicious was born.
The momentous task of telling the world about every last little eating place in London was obviously too much for one stomach and two typing fingers so other London Restaurant enthusiasts began to join her online world.
Before long there were many food-nuts writing their own opinionated opinions of all things eating out with a fun, clear and concise London Restaurant Guide that goes where others fear to tread.
There are page after page of wonderful London restaurant reviews that step outside of the usual way of looking at the cities eating places. Anywhere that has a table and food may be included, ok they don’t all have tables.
Reviewers have visited hundreds of establishments from the very trendiest Sunday Times must eat places to little London restaurants and café’s that other critics have never heard of.
Sometimes the intrepid bloggers wish they had never “discovered” some of these dubious food backwaters. But all the disappointment is worth the effort when real undiscovered London restaurant gold is struck.
The team are all of the same view, they like food and love searching for new food experiences. They are all amateurs, but they are accomplished amateurs, people who just like eating out and enjoying an evening of food delights.
You can join in their travels though the cobbled back alleyways and hip reception areas of the London’s most exiting and interesting foodie haunts. They leave no stone unturned or bottle of wine uncorked in their efforts to share the excitement that is London eating.
