restaurant reviews

21 August 2007, 18:37

Adam Roberts from The Amateur Gourmet wrote an awesome article on his blog about thinking of changing how he writes his restaurant reviews- whether food bloggers should visit a restaurant multiple times before reviewing it like newspaper and magazine food critics do:

“What do these three experiences have to do with food blogging? Well, if that third time had been my first time at Chiles & Chocolate in Park Slope, I would have written a savage review. If the second time had been my first time, I would have written it a love letter. But since my first time was my first time, I gave it a half-hearted nod and that’s the review that remains in my archives. ” [link from here]

For me its more fun visiting a restaurant you have never been to before and not knowing what to expect. If your first visit to a restaurant was not up to your expectations would you really want to go back? Not many of us can afford to revisit a restaurant several times just to see if the food and service gets better or worse so its all a matter of opinion but i reckon a restaurant should be fairly consistant in all areas unless its newly opened in which case some areas may be overlooked. Also, some food bloggers may concentrate on reviewing restaurants of a certain cuisine, I for one will hardly ever review chinese or malaysian restaurants because i find it hard to not compare their food to the uber tasty street food ive had in my childhood days… hmm but i think i like taking fotos slightly more than reviewing it. I loooove food and always have an opinion about what my tastebuds do and dont like but my descriptions of food always sounds like the cheesey jap chick on iron chef oooh sugoi desu ne!!!

1. Yeah I agree. Most of us in the food blogging community aren’t professionals, and are just doing it for the love of it. Of course if it’s an influential publication like SMH or similar, then they owe it to the restaurants they’re reviewing, to visit several times so that they get a fully informed opinion. If we all start to take it that seriously, then it just becomes another job!

   — Y    Aug 25, 04:52 PM    #
   
   

2. it is true that more visits equal a more truthful review, but you are right, we food bloggers often don’t have the money for it. plus, we are not restaurant reviewers. most of us don’t get paid for this. if anything, we are just offering the public yet another view of a restaurant. I feel like people are smart enough to know to go to restaurant reviews for a thorough review, and to food blogs for an “in the moment” review. I am actually writing my dissertation for school on food blogs, so I love this topic! Keep it up!

   — leena!    Aug 29, 12:04 PM    #
   
   

3. noods: eh
   y: yeah we food bloggers just do it for fun hey!
   leena: im so poor i cant afford to go to restaurants multiple times just to see if things change but how i would love to have the chance!

   — chocolatesuze    Sep 2, 09:52 PM    #