Here's the newest arena news today, about the team that's massing to push this tax through. It's not surprising that Richie Ross is rearing his reptilian head, and on behalf of the Maloofs no less.
I have kinda been ignoring Mike Dunne's blog but maybe I shouldn't. He's got the details on the Biba's temporary price cut on some items, the news that Joey B's is closing (I guess that paper rock scissors tournament wasn't a raging success?), the fact that the Zen Toro in Davis is staying open, and a little story on the bakery that has been opened by one of the original Naked Lounge guys that's in the alley across from 58. He doesn't have anything selling retail yet but Tortuga is buying his rolls, which will probably be an improvement over the greasy rolls they had.
Thinking of food makes me think about yelp. I know some readers of this blog are on yelp and have urged me to get on, but I don't really like it. At least right now there are very few people in Sac on it, so it gives each opinion more weight. And people seem to get on there with an axe to grind or let one experience color their whole judgement of the place and go off on it. That would be fine if people reading it keep that in mind, but if it becomes the site that comes up first in a web search I think it could unfairly hurt someone's business. The gripes are often petty ones about service. Here's a quick example, one I just came up with on the first thing I clicked on but there are many others: The yelp waterboy reviews. There are quite a few and they're generally really positive. But check out Charlie E's review. It was the only time he's ever been there and he says he got bad service. I've been there tons of times and I have always gotten excellent service, usually from the same few people that have been working there for years. Not a big deal, but if this was a less popular restaurant that could very well be the only review and if people searched it they might decide to stay away. BTW, this guy gave Plum Blossom two stars, only one less than the Waterboy. I guess you could level these accusations at any review, including mine, but I think this sort of forum encourages unbalanced rants a la Craigslist.
I find the message boards on yelp to be the most helpful in regard to tips on restaurant openings, closings, etc. In fact I already know about all the ones you mentioned in your post because of yelp (Zen Toro, etc). It's helpful if you like to be on top of that kind of stuff.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think that's the most interesting feature. In fact, it's what prompted me to write this because some dude piped in on there and said the "new" Vientianne (meaning the new owners) is terrible. This brought up very protective feelings in me and I was worried he would trash it and people would stop going. I'm eating there tomorrow so I'm going to judge for myself.
ReplyDeleteI like the Yelp site, but I don't review much beyond what I have already gotten paid to write for work...unless I REALLY like the place and I want to encourage business. I guess one has to read each person's reviews and decide on average whether or not the reviewer be taken seriously. Some of the one sentence write-ups are ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how Yelp is any different than writing up a review on a blog. Blog reviews will come up on google searches as well. I hate to just rely on paid restaurant reviewers. I feel their opinions can be compromised or they can become jaded from all the reviewing. My mom was a theater/movie critic for years and I saw how she started to hate it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think everyone uses it as a forum to complain. Most of the reviews are positive. Maybe it will force places to step up if they are getting a lot of complaints? When I read about a place on Yelp, I look at all of the reviews, not just one. If there is one bad one in the bunch, I won't make my decision based on a single review.
That's true, it's great as long as people keep that in mind and there is an aggregate (am I using that right?) of reviews. But do you see my point at all about the complaining about the service or do you totally disagree? We've had discussions about service in this forum before and I stand by my assertion that I do get slightly varying levels of service but rarely does it really color my dining experience. Unless it's egregious I just let it roll off my back. I can't remember the last time I had egregiously bad service. But the people on yelp seem so picky about it!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I definitely see your point about service. I do think that service is a big part of the overall dining experience, so it should be part of the review...but it shouldn't color it completely. Plus, I hate absolutely hate it when people will go onto Yelp only to complain about something. It usually is a red flag for me when I see somebody with only one review total and it is negative. Yelp the company also allows you to flag people's review if something seems off. They will review it and take it down.
ReplyDeleteI once gave a negative review about service...but it was BAD. And it wasn't for food. It was for a spa where service is what you are reviewing. The company actually called to apologize and then I updated my review.
You should search out Patrone's writings/comments on the Yelp site. Good reading!
ReplyDeleteSigned,
A Jason Patrone Stalker.
oh i've read 'em. they're funny. i like the one about the lucky cafe.
ReplyDeleteI actually really liked yelp at first and in theory I still do. The reasons I initially liked it were that a. anyone can post and b. it seemed like a great opportunity to promote things in Sac that I really love. Having spent some time on yelp, however, I have realized that yes, anyone can post, whether or not they know anything about what they are reviewing, or have a grudge against a certain establishment, therefore hurting some of the places I really love.
ReplyDeleteAs for the difference between a blog and yelp... most successful blogs are maintained on a frequent basis to promote readership and dialogue. With yelp it's a lot easier to make an impact but post whenever you feel like it. And, unlike a blog your review gets attached to the establishments name whereas in a blog it can be buried in text that may or may not be caught by google.
Having said all this, I think that many of the reviews that come across as unprofessional or misinformed on yelp are pretty apparent and as such quickly dismissed.
liv
I agree that I see no difference between Yelp, Heckasac or Myspace. Everyone is entitled to rant on the Internet. You've had bad comments about places on Heckasac. What's the difference between that and all my bad reviews. Besides, someone once told me that only bad reviews on Yelp are good reviews. Supposedly the bad review I gave to B&L really pissed off the chef and I ask why? As a EXECUTIVE chef, why would you care what one person says on a tiny Internet blog. My feelings are true about this place, but apparently I can never go back. Meh. I love Yelp, there is a broader realm of readers, info on places (food or not) I wonder about all over the country and here in Sac.
ReplyDeleteI've read many sac yelpers reviews and this was not directed at any one person. Just in general I think there is too much emphasis on service, which doesn't bother me unless it makes me late for a movie (hello Andy Nguyen-I still love you) and/or one-time experiences and/or petty gripes like the butter at Waterboy was cold.
ReplyDeleteService really matters to me. I don't need someone to kiss my hand and rub my feet, but I don't think it's too much to ask that people be polite.
ReplyDeleteI'm not talking about cold butter or a long wait for my food. I'm talking about having my and my son's food taken away from us mid-meal and being told that there was nothing they could do about it - and later being told that if I was that upset, I should just never come back there.
I agree with Lisa. I think that part of the service Yelp and blogs provide is for people to voice these kinds of opinions too. And if, like some of my reviews, the opinions are a bit irate, at least other people can balance things out by saying I'm full of shit.
> I'm not talking about cold butter or a
ReplyDelete> long wait for my food. I'm talking
> about having my and my son's food
> taken away from us mid-meal and being
> told that there was nothing they could
> do about it - and later being told
> that if I was that upset, I should
> just never come back there.
Wow, what two bit clip joint gave you that kind of poor service? Was that here in town?
Pres,
SASofSF
It looks like from Dani's Yelp reviews that the culprit was Crepeville aka Crapville.
ReplyDeleteI like Crepeville! I like their salads a lot and like I've said before I am addicted to their grilled tofu. I eat there usually once a week in Davis and it's always fast. I'm not trying to minimize your crappy experience, but Crepeville has like a trillion sexxeee employees and the majority of them are just fine (and hella fine). It sucks if the management wasn't sympathetic, for sure. That was their big mistake.
ReplyDeleteThis is not just directed towards Dani but it seems like many people hate on Crepeville. At least in yelp most hate on their crepes but I don't like crepes. I don't even know what a good crepe would taste like. Why don't we condemn crepes to the food gulag with wraps and call it a day? They're kind of similar to wraps if you think about it (i.e. inferior to sandwiches and pizzas which they are standing in for).
ALSO (who knew I had such passion for Crepeville) it is one of the few affordable places left downtown. I wish I could say Cafe Bernardo is affordable but my bill is somehow usually around 15 bucks since I get one glass of cheap wine.
And this was my rambling defense of Crepeville. The End.
My computer keeps eating my response. Maybe Crepeville has sent their spies to prevent me from my evil plot to bring them down. har dee har.
ReplyDeleteThe salads there are good and I like going to the 24th St. location. I had a really negative experience and mediocre food at the L St. location and that has colored my view of that specific restaurant. That should be clear since Yelp lists L St. at the location we're all reviewing.
I guess my review is harsh, but them's the breaks. I'm glad that other people have had good food there and I'm sure it'll continue to be packed for weekend brunch.