Ridiculous Reviews

[tonyo]

OK, so everyone is allowed to share their 2 cents on the 7 Nights website pertaining to restaurant reviews.  I have seen many that are either so vague (Place Rocks!) or just plain bizarre.  A recent review of Trattoria Delia by "NEWYORKER" contained phrases like "worst Italian food they've ever encountered" and "real Italian food".  Really ?  I guess the numerous people that patronize this long established restaurant are idiots.  I am sick and tired of nonsensical postings that have no value, specifics, or merit.  I would love to know why their Osso Bucco is "not Italian".  Does the cow have to be from Milan to make it "authentic"   I know there are people out there posting (positive and negative) for reasons other than sharing actual feedback with restaurant owners and potential customers.  The sources likely range from disgruntled former employees, competitors, and those that just want a forum to air their opinion.  If you have a good or bad experience BE SPECIFIC. "It Sucks" or  "Rockin" don't really help. Additionally, being from NYC does not automatically qualify someone as a pizza expert, nor does being from the South does not qualify someone as a BBQ expert. I love the line "well I'm Italian so I know pasta".  Oh there is some type of genetic order that qualifies Italians to judge someones linguine with clam sauce in a way that an Irish person can't ?  Chances are both people are AMERICAN and equally qualified to state their opinion.My guess is that most people that read the reviews can sort through the BS depending on their own level or restaurant knowledge. 

I hope that those that use this public forum as a means to unfairly bash businesses have the favor returned to them.  Additionally, my guess is Trattoria Delia will be busier than ever as us ignorant diners order plates of Brasato di Cinghale and Scamorza alla Griglia and wonder what it should "really" taste like.................       

[tonyo]

So, apparently Green Mountain Coffee Roasters coffee is such an inferior product, according to Magichatter, that La Brioche shouldn't serve it.  It always amazes me how quickly people bash companies that are successful and grow their business.  GMCR is an example of success on ALL levels: sound social citizen, a financial juggernaut, and very focused on the quality of their product.  I congratulate La Brioche for supporting a Vermont based company that employs hundreds of Vermonters as well as others around the globe.  Thankfully there is still some degree of loyalty out there.  Bigger is not always better, but sometimes it is pretty damn good (that's what she said.....).

[dtp123]

I don't think the problem was the brand of coffee. If a bakery can't make excellent pastries what makes one think they could make excellent coffee. Coffee needs to be brewed properly. I think that is part of why people don't like Green Mountain. It is so popular it is everywhere, but not everyone knows how to brew it. I also think that people don't know how to choose roasts that they like so they end up getting a middle of the road medium roast, when what they wanted was a dark roast. I also agree that there are a lot of useless reviews on seven nights, but you can't get angry about them. I mean thats what the website is for, to give everyone a voice.

[tonyo]

I fully agree and the proliferation of GMCR has actually become a problem for them.  For example, their coffee can be found in convenience stores and gas stations.  That setting doesn't exactly scream QUALITY !  Also, it is true that they have a wide range of blends and roasts that appeal to a wide range of tastes.  A properly brewed cup of GMCR Kenyan AA is quite a different experience from a 6 hour old pot of "Our Blend" brewed with porr quality water in a dirty brewer.  My issue is when people "write off" the entire line of products because it isn't some boutique brand. 

As far as the ridiculous reviews go, my responses are my way of shedding some degree of sense on the BS that gets peddled.  I have no problem with opinions as long as they are based on ACTUAL experiences and not some attempt to inflict negativity without a sound basis. 

[tonyo]

Here we go again !  The latest review of Ri Ra has the reviewer, an apparent vegetarian, complaining that on 1/2 price burger night, Ri Ra would not offer the vegetarian wrap at 1/2 off.  Oh hell, maybe the whole menu should be 1/2 off to avoid upsetting anyone.  And while they are at maybe they should offer 25 cent pints as well.  The "veg set" seems to always have some complaint about nearly every restaurant.  Here is may advice, ORDER A SALAD AND A SIDE DISH OF SHUTTY ! 

[tonyo]

OK, yet another ridiculous review.  This time it is Poppy's review of Mary's on Baldwin Creek.  Poppy makes a reference to the fact that servers have to carry their own money to make change.  Well, how does that possibly impact ANYONE'S dining experience and why would that subject ever be discussed with a patron ?? There is also a reference about white soup served in white bowls to white people.  Is this some type of tongue in cheek attempt at Spike Lee style humor ?  I continue to be perplexed at what some folks seem to think is helpful information in reviewing a restaurant.......................

[slaphappiest]

Humm, while I never saw the review, and you didn't give a link to it, I can honestly say that your review of the review was lacking.
Try to read the (para)phrase "white soup in white bowls to white people" as "bland is cooked here." 
If they just said that the food was bland, boring, pedestrian, common, without any hint of character...would you have a problem?  Or was it the white thing that hit your buttons?
Heck, that is the way I feel about Green Mountain Coffee Roasters... " bland, boring, pedestrian, common, without any hint of character."  Bought it once, found it lacking, will not do it again.
With the GMCR critique was it the Vermont thing that was hitting your buttons?

Boring food is boring food & bad coffee is bad coffee no matter where you are.

[tonyo]

My issue with the white/white/white comment is simple: the soup (which I have had and it is superb) is white, the color of the bowl is completely irrelevant as you don't see the color of the bowl soup is served in until it is empty (and it still does not matter) and the comment about white people may have been an attempt at humor that I missed.  Would chopped parsley have added some color to the dish ?  Sure.  Would it have been a more interesting dining experience if Samuel L. Jackson was at the next table eating aforementionaed soup ? Possibly. 

In reference to Green Mountain Coffee, I am about the last person that is going to give any product/company a free pass simply because they are "local" or based in Vermont.  However, I find all too many people that immediately dismiss GMCR as being pedestrian coffee because they have become a large corporation.  Does everyone like their coffee ? No.  Do some people buy GMCR coffee based on brand recognition alone ? You betcha.  My issue is that some people are always seeking out the obscure (coffee/music/etc.) simply based on the obscurity factor.  I happen to think their coffee line up offers something for just about every taste from the pedestrian Our Blend to a really stellar Kenya AA. When someone is basing their opinion of an entire company based on a singular experience, I find that is a generalism that commenting on can help provide clarity to those that read the review and amy want more info.     

[tonyo]

Recently "peopleeater" posted on 7 nights board that "You can't knock Leunig's" based on another posters review. Really ?  All negative comments must be kept silent due to Leunig's long history in Burlington ?  I have had a wide range of experiences at Leunig's and will feel free to share the good and bad. In all fairness though, I think that issues should always be addressed at the time they occur to give the restaurant a chance to rectify them.

[tonyo]

The latest bizarre review on 7 Nights is the 4 star rating given to Shelburne Steakhouse and Saloon by "cyclestu".  Read that review and tell me how they possibly arrive at a 4 start rating...........................

[Suzanne Podhaizer]

Behind the scenes, I am able to see the breakdown of ratings for food, ambiance and service. In the case of CycleStu's comment on The Shelburne Steakhouse & Saloon, he gave it 3 stars for food, 5 for ambiance and 5 for service.

I'm not sure if the two fives were given in error or not (perhaps there was a computer glitch?), or if the commenter thought that 1 was good and 5 was bad. Or if he figured that the sirens were an unusual scenario, and not representative of what the restaurant would normally be like.

[tonyo]

On the 7 Nights site, LAKECHAMPSAILOR gives Rustico's "5 months".  Really ?  I wonder how he/she came up with this brilliant forecast ?  Has he/she viewed their P&L ?  Is he/she clairvoyant ?  Perhaps he/she was channeling some restaurant expert like Guy Fieri or Rachel Ray.  So, LAKE CHAMPLAINSAILOR, what does the future hold for the stock market ?  Who will win the Super Bowl this year ?