This weekend the San Francisco Chronicle ran a pretty interesting front page story about how food bloggers impact the restaurant industry. While mainstream critics generally wait 30 days before reviewing a new restaurant (so that the chef and staff can work out glitches), everyday people, who use sites like Yelp to voice their opinion, review places as soon as they can. So if your chicken was overdone and rubbery, the whole world is going to know. Some savvy restauranteurs use the customer feedback to their advantage (if patrons say portion sizes are too small, or service is too slow you can fix it), while others just end up struggling against the bad reviews. After all, who wants to go to the publicly-voted 1 star restaurant when the publicly-voted 4 star is right next door?
So what do you guys think about all of this. Do you think that online restaurant reviews are valid? And do you use them?
Rm By Roland Mouret
Vivienne Westwood
Elemis
I like to read the newspapers reviews and check out the restaurants website. I often ask myself who the heck are these people who write online reviews? How much worth is an opinion of someone I don't even know?
1I use them and the restaurant's website and the online newspaper reviews. I figure between a few good sources you can get a good idea of what to expect
2I feel the same way about restaurant reviews as i do about hotel reviews. you have to experience it for yourself. someone may go there one day and have a bad experience, but you could go the next and have a totally different one. i say if it looks good than check it out!
3i think its a good idea to read up on it and at least get some background about the ambience etc
4i dont, but thats a good idea.
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