Friday Night Experience

...That's weird because there are reviews on Urbanspoon going back to the middle of November (a couple of which I wouldn't rule out having been written by someone from the restaurant).

That is why I give very LITTLE weight to Urbanspoon or Yelp reviews. There is no way to know who is really writing them. Both heavenly praise or negative ratings.

Frankly I think it's turning into a racket. I can't tell you how many times we'll get one or two bad yelp reviews in a row- often times complaining about a dish THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE EVEN SERVE, and then I'll get that little phone call two days later from an "internet/social media consultant" about how we should hire them and take full advantage of social networking....sooooo sketchy.

Jeremy,
Wow- that's terrible. Is there a way for businesses to get bogus posts deleted? Do you respond with a correction?

Deb

Frankly I think it's turning into a racket. I can't tell you how many times we'll get one or two bad yelp reviews in a row- often times complaining about a dish THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE EVEN SERVE, and then I'll get that little phone call two days later from an "internet/social media consultant" about how we should hire them and take full advantage of social networking....sooooo sketchy.

Rrrealllly ? Wow...That IS kinda-sorta-pretty-much scammy-rackety-suspicious-sounding. <shrugs> I always assumed that there might be a little abuse going on i.e. people slamming their competition or people secretly tooting their own horn but I never for a second thought about abuse originating from within. Not sure what could be done - if anything - to prevent/correct those kind of problems.

Like I say though, I still find the sites useful I'm just kinda picky (like I am on this forum) about who I listen to and who I don't...For example I'm a little bit less likely to pay attention to a 6 word "it was great" (or terrible) "mobile review" on Urbanspoon than I am someone who took the time to articulate at least a -little bit- of what they liked and/or did not like.

Thanks for the "heads up" Jeremy.

I don't think it's people from Yelp or Urban Spoon themselves, there are just a lot of little mom and pop (read: unemployed 23 year old with a mac and a useless bachelors degree) "social media consultants" popping up. It's really easy to scare someone into paying for your services when there's no real accountability on either of those sites.

Frankly- I never give the reviews a thought at all, whether it's about a place I'm involved with or about to eat at because I really feel that not everyone should be a food critic. The fact of the matter is that some people get it and some don't, and while those who don't should be able to eat wherever they please, it doesn't necessarily mean that they should be reviewing food. My other pet peeve- it's always 5 or 1 stars. Love it or hate it. That's not accurate criticism, it embodies everything that I don't like about those sites.

there are just a lot of little mom and pop (read: unemployed 23 year old with a mac and a useless bachelors degree) "social media consultants" popping up.

I've SEEEEEEN these people...

I don't think it's people from Yelp or Urban Spoon themselves,

I may not be remembering right but I thought Yelp had been accused of that. They would call someone with a few bad reviews and offer to push those reviews to the bottom for a little extra money/advertising.

If it's a place that utilizes Open Table, I've found the reviews there to generally be fair and helpful.

Mr. RichardM,

My name is Michael, and I am the chef at Louis Le Francais. I was greatly dismayed to read about your experience at our restaurant the other night, and I wish to offer you my sincere apologies for the poor service that you received. I want thank you for sharing your experience as well, because we need to know whenever problems arise so that we can correct them.

Please rest assured that we have taken the steps necessary to correct the issues of excessive wait times and the lack of attentive service. I would like to invite you back Louis Le Francais and to give us a second chance. If you do decide to return, please ask a member of our front-of-the-house team to inform Chef Michel that you have arrived and mention the words "Friday night experience", and I will attend to you personally. Once again, my apologies.

Sincerely,

Michael

Has anyone been lately? Looking for a place for dinner Saturday night.

How's your business going Trisha? Got a website link?