Stonedsoup, the topic of this post is, “I’m reluctant to criticize a restaurant - are you?” .
I’m not shy to put out my opinion.
And if it helps me find a restaurant that suits my fancy, so much more the reason. Especially on discussion sites, such as this. Yelp and their ilk fail to provide me anything worthwhile in my search.
I, ultimately, want only one thing from any restaurant I pay for a meal, and that is, I want to Taste the culinary skill.
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My mind took a leap to my favorite neon sign- when Krispy Kreme’s “Hot Now” light is on! A sure sign that “today is very, very good!” Maybe a bit off topic, but I appreciate the moment to salivate, thinking about one of my favorite snacks. (Thank you all for bearing with me…)
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These are experiences I’ve collected over the years, not necessarily something I actively engage in at present. I cook/bake at home a whole lot more now.
To answer your questions, at that time I didn’t have many places to choose from. I waited to be alone because I didn’t know how staff/owners would react to the question or what other patrons would think. I am human; I am nervous when trying something new. As far as what baked goods keep for how long, how those should be stored, etc, that’s a whole other discussion (though not completely irrelevant.)
When the reviewing craze started, I thought I would write reviews like those I would want to read. I always wonder what are the gems and what I should avoid at a given establishment, and I thought that was a good way to introduce a stranger to a place I enjoy. Contentious is in the mind of the reader, I guess.
You would think it’s an innocuous query, but is it incredulous that someone might not appreciate it? Why not try it, even just as an experiment? Ask questions wherever you go. Small towns, big towns. Bakeries, restaurants, farmers markets. Ask as politely as you can. There are lots of similar questions. E.g., if you don’t like supermarket bread, ask the artisan sandwich shop where they source their bread. For the most part it’s fun, like a magic ticket to deliciousness. A lot of people will be ecstatic that you care. I’m not in the industry like you, so I learned a lot, too. However, dollars to doughnuts, there are a few folks who will be less than enthused.
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Yup
Pretty much as you said in your post: The dish was described as “francaise” but the preparation, while ok, was much different.
Unfortunately there is a tendency to use classic terms almost as a suggestion these days. Not sure if it is lack of knowledge or being to lazy to fully describe the dish. I would find it useful having this reported in a review. Then I know to ask questions at the venue rather than assuming a dish will be prepared in the manner the name indicates.
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When you read reviews from Yelp or whatever . How much of the review do you believe that is written from people with no creds ? Could be a opinion from someone on a bad date and takes it out on the restaurant . And do the negative reviews out way the positive ones ? I’m drifting from the topic .
Thank you.
It’s unfortunate that I had to write several responses to get to my point, and then, when I finally got to the point, I write it correctly the first time, and then miss the mark completely the second, and now quoted, time.
I wish I wrote what I meant to say and that is,
“Since this was, as I stated, edible, but simply was not francaise, how does one proceed to write a GOOD review?”
The difference being your very nice reply is passive and, as you say, requires you to do more homework.
I have WAY more misses than hits when eating locally and besides my own extensive research, I depend heavily on the reviews of others. Some reviewers I know I share little in common with and are just as valuable a source as those who share my tastes.
An avoid is worth just as much, and perhaps even more, than a rave review from someone who is happy with francaise not being francaise. Or even passive about it.
I won’t be writing a review of the place that did this. It isn’t worth dissecting every dish, spewing vitriol all over the well intentioned, but clueless workers, onto an unassuming public.
Location plays a major roll in that.
Funny. I find steak boring as well. I like it but it’s a one note pony.
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Thanks for saying that. I read an article (op-ed piece) by a former restauranteur that was nationally well known at the time, I think the early '90s… He wrote why he was closing his restaurant and getting out of the business. The main thrust of what he said was that there were too many people looking to profit from every real or imagined flaw in the restaurant’s service in the name of comps or moneys. I actually saw my mother do this more than once. We went to a restaurant for her birthday and she said she couldn’t eat her steak (I had the same thing and it was fine- very good, even). A couple of weeks later I saw a gift card stuck on her fridge to that restaurant for far more than her meal cost. And she didn’t pay a dime- we had taken her out to dinner! So I was less inclined to think that the restauranteur was boo-hooing- too many people I’ve seen do that.
