This is a problem with a lot of online reviews, you tend to get extremes rather than an accurate reflection of sentiments. After all if you go some place mediocre you're not going to care enough to review it, but if you go somewhere stellar (or shitty) then you're going to tell everyone.
This is why Ebay changed the way it does seller ratings, and why you have to read way too much into reviews on Amazon (setting aside the paid for reviews if you can).
I own a yarn store. Twice a year I get a call from Yelp and am told exactly how much it costs to get the low star reviews moved to the bottom of the list.
This can, weirdly, be seen as defense of print media and 'real' reviewers. I'm sure part of the 'star inflation' simply has to do with the fact that 'civilians' are more likely to go to restaurants they have heard (or read) are good; continued positive reviews are just a self fulfilling prophesy. By contrast, professional reviewers (ideally) go to every new restaurant, see every new movie, etc. etc., and with a broader array of choices can hopefully provide a better determination of overall quality. Not to mention that (again, ideally) they visit a restaurant more than once, evaluate a movie with thorough knowledge of its context--and don't have weird personal grudges. Hate to sound like an MSM apologist, but I'd believe Frank Bruni any day over EatrGuy72.
@DorothyBarker: Not only that, but you've also got that "I want to say nice things about them, they might buy from me/might run into me at the store/might send me something free the next time I'm in the place." People do pander to get freebies, even just esteem from strangers who run restaurants. They see it as natural, they see it as "being nice." Which is why I love reviewers who pay for their meals, aren't on the social pages every damn day, and write objectively (if well).
Mind you, my favorite reviewer is AA Gill. He makes me thank GOD I never got into the restaurant business in the first place.
This is why, if I'm going to research a restaurant using consumer reviews, I gravitate toward Zagat. It's probably not terribly different than Yelp, yes, but I feel that those who fill out Zagat surveys are usually more discerning than those who spend their time rating eateries on Yelp.
No shit. I was so disappointed when I used Yelp in New York this year (my hometown let me down!). It sent me to crap delis, bakeries and restaurants. I couldn't believe it. Surprisingly, I actually found the LA yelpers to be more discerning. And I'm cheap, so I'm talking about low rent and medium priced neighborhood joints that are more likely to be frequented by locals than tourists doing up the town. I don't know what happened.
The Wall Street Journal recently did a story, available on the web only to subscribers, about how reviewers on rating sites consistently award such high star counts that the stars are meaningless. Because of this phenomenon, eBay now ranks sellers by how many one- and two-star reviews they get. I should think people would use this reviews to complain, not to commend, but I guess I'm too cynical about humanity.
People don't feel inclined to write reviews on restaurants that are three star worthy. One is much more likely to spend the energy writing reviews on restaurants they love.
@mfnher: I would think people would be more inclined to review restaurants they hate. Nothing like a scathing internet review to make you feel better about awful service or slow delivery.
@greengrey: I agree - plenty of the reviews on Yelp are very bitchy, normally in a pretty idiotic way. A good example being the guy who gave a restaurant 1 star because he got a parking ticket whilst dining there, or the person who gave a place one star because she saw the chef in the kitchen "handling the food". I hate Yelp.
@The-Littlest-Hobo: Yeah, there are some horrible reviews. My husband and I have a restaurant. We got a poor rating from someone who claimed the amuse bouche was too small. Apparently, he is unfamiliar with what the hell an amuse bouche is.
We have no recourse to keep people from posting that crap. For the most part, we have received very positive reviews. I do think that people want to write bitchy reviews, but most people only post when they have something positive to say. I think it's because your name is associated with the review.
@mfnher: ". We got a poor rating from someone who claimed the amuse bouche was too small. Apparently, he is unfamiliar with what the hell an amuse bouche is."
Hence my post above. Not saying people aren't entitled to their opinion, but a lot of times it's an uninformed one which does no one any good.
@blix: Waiter: Would monsieur care for another bottle of the Chateau Latour?
Navin Johnson: Ah yes - but no more 1966. Let's splurge! Bring us some fresh wine! The freshest you've got - this year! No more of this old stuff.
Waiter: Oui monsieur.
Navin: He doesn't realise he's dealing with sophisticated people here. [Navin realizes with horror what is on Marie's plate] Marie, now just stay calm. Stay calm. Don't look down, don't look down! Look up! Just keep your eyes up and keep them that way, OK.
Navin to the waiter: Waiter - there are snails on her plate. Now get them out of here before she sees them! [to Marie] Look away, just look away, keep your eyes that way! [to the room of people, which is now watching the pair] You would think that in a fancy restaurant at these prices you could keep the snails off the food! There are so many snails there you can't even see the food! [to the waiter] Now take those away and bring us those melted cheese sandwich appetizers you talked me out of!
Waiter: Oui, monsieur.
Navin: Can you believe this? First, they didn't have the bamboo umbrellas for the wine, and now snails on the food! Two boobs! That's what he takes us for!
@Ken Green:
Restaurant Patron: "Taste the soup."
Waiter: "I don’t wanna taste the soup."
Patron: "Taste the soup."
Waiter: "But, I don’t wanna taste the soup."
Patron: "Just taste the soup."
Waiter: "Why do you want me to taste the soup."
Patron: "C’mon, just taste the soup."
Waiter: "I can’t, there’s no spoon."
Patron: "AHA*….. AAAAHHHHAAAA*!!!"
What the hell were the Madoffs doing in the decidedly downscale Mount Olympos Diner in Yonkers? I mean no disrespect, but if I had his cash flow and I was in the burbs, I would at least spring for Charlie Brown Steak House.
The Per Se tip, $60 on a $1200 tab can be accounted for by the fact that there's a 20% service charge already included. It's the same with Outback with its $800 tab, they didn't tip because the service charge is included for parties over a certain number.
10/13/09
This is why Ebay changed the way it does seller ratings, and why you have to read way too much into reviews on Amazon (setting aside the paid for reviews if you can).
10/13/09
signed,
Mayor of my own apartment and the off-sales window at the pub.
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Mind you, my favorite reviewer is AA Gill. He makes me thank GOD I never got into the restaurant business in the first place.
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We have no recourse to keep people from posting that crap. For the most part, we have received very positive reviews. I do think that people want to write bitchy reviews, but most people only post when they have something positive to say. I think it's because your name is associated with the review.
10/13/09
Hence my post above. Not saying people aren't entitled to their opinion, but a lot of times it's an uninformed one which does no one any good.
10/13/09
10/13/09
Navin Johnson: Ah yes - but no more 1966. Let's splurge! Bring us some fresh wine! The freshest you've got - this year! No more of this old stuff.
Waiter: Oui monsieur.
Navin: He doesn't realise he's dealing with sophisticated people here. [Navin realizes with horror what is on Marie's plate] Marie, now just stay calm. Stay calm. Don't look down, don't look down! Look up! Just keep your eyes up and keep them that way, OK.
Navin to the waiter: Waiter - there are snails on her plate. Now get them out of here before she sees them! [to Marie] Look away, just look away, keep your eyes that way! [to the room of people, which is now watching the pair] You would think that in a fancy restaurant at these prices you could keep the snails off the food! There are so many snails there you can't even see the food! [to the waiter] Now take those away and bring us those melted cheese sandwich appetizers you talked me out of!
Waiter: Oui, monsieur.
Navin: Can you believe this? First, they didn't have the bamboo umbrellas for the wine, and now snails on the food! Two boobs! That's what he takes us for!
- Steve Martin, "The Jerk"
10/13/09
Restaurant Patron: "Taste the soup."
Waiter: "I don’t wanna taste the soup."
Patron: "Taste the soup."
Waiter: "But, I don’t wanna taste the soup."
Patron: "Just taste the soup."
Waiter: "Why do you want me to taste the soup."
Patron: "C’mon, just taste the soup."
Waiter: "I can’t, there’s no spoon."
Patron: "AHA*….. AAAAHHHHAAAA*!!!"
-Eddie Murphy, "Coming to America"
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