Just for fun, I started reading "reviews" for other restaurants in the area. Pretty much the same story. The thing that really makes me go bonkers is that the majority of these awful "reviews" are written by people who have no clue. One of the biggest complaints across the board, for every restaurant, was that we are all "overpriced". These people will also go on to say that being "overpriced" is the norm for the area. So answer me this: if you know the ENTIRE area is "overpriced", then why are you bitching about it? If you know it's expensive, then why are you even bothering to come to the area? Really??? That's like going to France, and bitching that everybody over there speaks French. I mean, these people will even bitch about paying for parking. Shut. Up.
I'm sure there are people who write legitimate reviews, whether they be good or bad. The problem is mucking through and determining which ones are legit, and which ones aren't. One review can sing the highest praises, the next claiming that it is the lowest of the low. One person claimed that "you can get a better steak at Sizzler, AND get two sides!" This says a lot about that person. A review for another restaurant said that the food was just "nasty". Really. This person is soooo eloquent that the best way to describe the food is, "nasty". No descriptives, no the sauce was runny, the fish was overcooked, the vegetables were limp, just, "nasty".
When people don't like things, they tend to blow everything out of proportion. For example:if they had to wait 10 minutes for a table; it becomes half an hour in their review. It's kind of like complainer math. Everything gets exponentially worse, just to make for an interesting review. Someone wrote that they had to wait 45 minutes before a server even acknowledged them. Ok. My question is this: why would you sit at a table for 45 frickin' minutes waiting for a server??? Oh, I know why, it's so you can bash the rest of your dining experience on Yelp, or Trip Advisor. These people said that everything was horrible, the food, the service, the manager had no clue what she was doing, and so on. This is the stuff that makes my blood boil. These people obviously don't eat out much or are habitual complainers. They weren't even talking about my restaurant and I was pissed. But because these jagoffs were hell-bent on having a horrible time, and hating everything, their precious little review is out there for the world to see. What's bad about this is that someone else who is just as moronic will take this particular review to heart. I mean, come on, you're going to listen to someone who sat at a table without a server for 45 minutes?? And admits it??
There are other factors to take into consideration as well. A scathing review could have been written by someone at a rival restaurant, or a bitter ex-employee. An over-the-top wonderful review could have been written by someone who works there. You just never know. Just take them with a grain of salt, and remember that not everyone has the same tastes. Instead of relying on the opinions of people you don't know, why don't you try a place out for yourself and form your own opinion. Hmmm, interesting concept. Just don't write anything stupid about it later.
