While I agree that the reviewer should have called the dish by the name Chef Chris uses, calling it Chicken Savoy isn’t entirely off-base since even though it includes cheese, vinegar is an important ingredient.
Frankly, I’ve never been in favor of star ratings because I’ve found that all too often, the written review and the star rating don’t match. I think it’s much better to let the review stand on its own.
From my experience, no sure on dining, but I see it with most else, NJ Monthly has a HUGE northern NJ bias; prob due to where most ad $$ comes from.
As someone who uses a 1-5 star rating, I actually agree with the flaws you point out.
Many people will immediately jump to the end so they can see how many stars I gave before either going back to read the review in its entirety or just closing it altogether. Some have been disappointed (and called me out on social media) when I gave 3 out of 5 stars (which most people consider average) to a particular restaurant they love, but they probably did not bother to read the review. I can really enjoy a place a still give it a 3 or 3.5. And there are places I have given higher (4-5 stars) ratings and managed to criticize certain items more than a lower scored restaurant. It’s all relative, I guess.
And as a side note, the type of restaurant matters too. I’ll do everything from a pizzeria/Chinese takeout greasy spoon to fine dining. A Chinese takeout place could crank out flawless food and they still are probably not getting above a 4. This is why the star system is flawed, but readers do want a “score”, and honestly, it makes categorizing the restaurants I’ve reviewed a lot easier.
I am in the middle of performance evaluations for my team and I am constantly explaining that a 3 is great! 3 does not equal a C! It means you are doing what you should. You are NOT a rock star or a high performer.
You know who always calls me out on 3’s? MY MOM. We will go somewhere, I’ll give it a 3, and she’ll say, “I thought you liked x?” and I’ll say, “I did” and explain. It happens every time! 
I feel the same way as you. 3 is above average, because technically 2.5 would be average/right down the middle. A 3 means I liked it more than I didn’t, would consider going back again, and probably had more positives than negatives.
The recently named Restaurant Critic at the Detroit News explains her use of the Star System:
Perhaps the moderators can expand the 
system. You can currently give only either one or none. If we could give , , , or then we could rate every post!
I’ll go for a third. When the reviewer compared Netties carbonara to her mother’s. Mom used butter and there should be no butter in classic carbonara. If you are going to compare a dish, I think it should be done to the classic dish and not whatever mom did. While moms may be excellent cooks, and my mom is, she also fed us baked fried chicken covered in Cheez-Its crumbs once.
The one vote per person per comment is how Reddit works too. Maybe we need an upside down fork and knife if you don’t like a post?
People, people, can’t we all just get along without talk of forking anyone??
Why not create a fork stabbed through a plate?
Reviews are incredibly subjective. Twice I have seen restaurant owners log into HO to comment and turn the thread into a more balanced discussion.
Opinions are useful but what Curls said about finding out for yourself by eating there is very useful. We cant all like the same things anyhow.
Outstanding!
Raises hand sheepishly…I’ve done that. And more than once.
Oh wow, thanks! Your trick worked perfectly!
Et Tu Chowdom.
lol, I’m not sure how to take that 
You Brute.
Shakespeare fans … following 
That sounds divine!
