CJ wants to give Le Relais 4 1/2 or 5 stars?

[Robin Garr]

Seriously!

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/en ... /17318073/

I like Le Relais. Love the setting, like the concept. But in several visits over ... um, say the last four or five years ... I feel pretty strongly that it's been coasting. Good, but no longer in the top tier for me.

But the CJ's critic is clearly smitten.

What do you think, about Le Relais, and about this review?

[Robin Garr]

For reference, my more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger review from the summer of 2012:
http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/how-i ... ol-reunion

What bothers me is the first paragraph:

For those readers who first look for the stars in a review, I'll make it simple. Bistro Le Relais gets four. That's a shame because it deserves more. Four and a half? Five? It doesn't matter, because these reviews have a limit of four, which signifies outstanding.

Summation at the bottom:

BISTRO LE RELAIS

Four stars (out of five)

If your lead is making a big deal about your reviewed restaurant deserving 4 1/2 or 5, but your capped at 4 then make sure your summation at the bottom reflects that.

My question, with some snark, is this a 4 of 4 star or 4 of 5 star review? Second question, do they have editors there any more or is this some journalistic wordplay that went right over my head?

Wife and I put Le Relais back in our rotation this Summer and enjoyed several very nice meals on the deck. That said we used to take clients there back in the day frequently and have not done that for a long time. With the weather changing we'll probably give them another shot inside particularly since we could walk there if need be.

Been there a couple of times in the last year or so. Not bad, but I would have gone with about 3 stars. Certainly not 4 and certainly not gushing about five or more.

Doug. .. if the CJ still has editors, they don't seem very good. I often see minor errors with editing in the paper. If it passes spell-check, than it is in.

Pretty standard review. I reject the allusion that "bistro" = "dumbed down." And the stars mess is a mess, but otherwise a standard review.

I really wanted to read the review - but I am not paying. It says "We hope you enjoyed your free access" and then wants me to pay. No.

[Robin Garr]

I really wanted to read the review - but I am not paying. It says "We hope you enjoyed your free access" and then wants me to pay. No.

It's sad to see the newspaper that I lived turned into such a hot mess. Thanks, Gannett!

Robin,

You are much hipper than me, so what is a "hot mess"?

[Robin Garr]

Robin,

You are much hipper than me, so what is a "hot mess"?

Jerry, it's like the price of JP Morgan's yacht: If you've got to ask ...

A fan of Le Relais, not of this lady's reviews.

The "it pulls you in like a novel you don't want to put down" lines keep me from taking her seriously. Still, I've not been in years, and it was far from a four (or 4.5!) experience. Reading it makes me want to check out the place again, and the menu does look interesting.