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How effective are restaurant reviews?

Just wanted to know if reading restaurant reviews either online or in print, swayed you from eating at the restaurants based on their negative or good reviews?

I’m asking this question as I am trying to organise a special dinner anniversary at a restaurant for May 21st with my fella and not sure if I should be paying attention to these reviews I’m reading.

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Answer #1

I don’t usually trust good reviews on anything because I have been paid to write fake ones myself. Those were for products, not food service, but still - if I got paid like that, someone else must have.

Bad reviews, however, I do raise my eye at because someone took the time out of their day to specifically share bad experiences with the world. Granted, it could be a competing restaurant paying people to bash on another; but for the most part, people want positive feedback for their establishment, not bad feedback for their competition. That’s just more publicity for the enemy.

I agree with Jeremy (thedude) in the sense that if the review is on a reputable site or from a reputable source, chances are it is at least somewhat valid. I wouldn’t trust plane Jane, anybody post here sites for anything though.

Answer #2

Thanks.

We are not sure if these particular patrons are just fussy or the restaurants itself posted these good reviews regarding their food, services and atmosphere.

I’m not sure if Australian restaurants follow the Michelin star system. All the ones we have read so far mainly have star ratings. We are leaning towards more fine dining, but reading all the reviews so far, have made us uneasy as most seem to be paying for the view or locations of these restaurants rather then the foods or services. (I’m bit of a snob and like to be looked after if we dined at nice places by their wait staff).

Answer #3

In the past, I’ve found them mixed…there was a scandal here involving yelp where it was revealed that merchants who advertised could put whatever review they liked the best at the top of the stack.

However, in the US at least, Zagats which pays people to review restaurants has tended to be better than most sites…their website isn’t the best though.

If they have a michelin star system, I’d go by that, or Zagat’s…or if they have an equivelent. Many sites with reviews, well, given the scandal here recently, might not be worth the pixels they’re published on.

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