The new unpaid restaurant critic


The new unpaid restaurant critic








The new unpaid restaurant critic

  1. Jamie Maw, the dean of Vancouver Restaurant critics was a big early adopter to e-gullet. I think he really fought the elitism of that site (I rememebr one poster attacking James Barber because he wasn't sophisticated enough and Jamie leaping to his defence). I think like in every other field you have to recognise that the internet has changed the way reviewing is done. That being said, there is a place for a professional as well.

  2. Chowhound and the like cannot be ignored by restaurants or consumers today, they are powerful and instant in their opinions in addition to being used increasingly by every demographic. Like instant potatoes these posts may be pretty reasonable substitutes however an experienced and seasoned professional opinion I believe can never be replaced. It is very true that technology has changed the way we view "reviews" and while everyone can be a critic, few are reviewers. Do these posts/blogs carry the same weight? Consumers today can see through the rants and or self ingratiating posts to determine the worthiness of a potential restaurant. There will always be a place for the well written balanced perspective on my ipad.

  3. While dissenting opinions are a great addition to any city's culinary arena, I do think that Chowhound can often have a negative effect on local businesses for the exact reason you point out in the first paragraph of this article; The everyman visiting a restaurant in it's first few weeks of business.

    Everyone wants to know about the hottest new spot, but no one has the respect to let a restaurant have its soft opening. It's easy to criticize a spot for its flaws when it is new. Some Chowhounders keep these aspects in mind, unfortunately not all. All it takes is one bad review from an established, amateur poster for others to dismiss a restaurant, I think that's a shame.

    Additionally, there are some people on Chowhound who I would view as "food bullies". These folks think their opinion matters above all others. I've seen posters completely berate fellow foodies for their opinions. It's lame. Just because you've been an amateur reviewer for 10 years doesn't mean your palate is more refined than others.

    When it comes to dining or any art for that matter, it's not about who gets there first or the who's who of a food blog,it's about taste and experience. I think some people on the site let it go to their head.

    • Oh, foo. A new deli opened in downtown Toronto last year called "Caplansky's". The opening was terrible. Problems with the computer system, late or missing entrees, poor service, inconsistent food (i.e. great one night, horrid the next), etc. And this continued for at least a month.

      Did the restaurant fail? Not a chance. People who'd tried Zane's smoked meat at his little hole in the wall at the Monarch tavern were more than willing to give him some time to get things right, and they regularly posted in his defense. The business is quite successful now.

      On the other hand, a new Chinese spot opened up in Richmond Hill a few months ago. It was run by a group who had two other very good spots in the northern Toronto burbs, so many hounds went to check it out. The reviews, from well known and trusted posters, were uniformly negative. Some dishes were good, but many were not, and cold, greasy dim sum is not going to win you many fans. A couple of months later, and I notice the parking lot is nearly empty on Friday and Saturday nights. I always check CH when I'm going to a new city, and I've rarely been disappointed by their recommendations.

  4. I use Chowhound when I travel – where is there a better database of food in a foreign city? Chowhound tends to do its own self-selecting with reviews. If I read a positive recommendation over and over again…well, then I'm pretty confident that's a good choice for eating establishment. A newspaper reviewer simply cannot compete with the quantity of different perspectives that Chowhound represents. And yes, as with any group, there are the 'bullies' on the boards. I ignore their reviews.

  5. Forget chowhound.
    Go for egullet: serious reliable material.

  6. lesley is the most overrated food columnist.

  7. Chowhound is presumed by many to be an unbiased open forum which
    reflects consumer sentiment. The truth is that Chowhound is heavily
    censored. Look at the comments at the end of this post: