Periodically there is discussion about the state of reviewing and whether critical reviews, particularly negative ones, are still possible in this age of social media. My reviewing is pretty much limited to books and the occasional movie or stage production so I have no idea if this same debate is going on in the world of restaurant reviewing. All I do know is that New York Times restaurant reviewer Pete Wells is out for blood in his latest review. Punch by punch by punch it exudes fury like nothing else I’ve read in a long time. I can only presume he feels the restaurateur in question deserves every smack. But boy oh boy is it harsh!
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educating alice 
I thought the comments about the service — not clearing away the plates and the host saying “Why don’t you have a look around and see if you can find them?” — were the most telling criticisms.
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Wow! I have to say I was entertained though.
A 500 seat restaurant? And the owner of this restaurant also owns two other chains and appears on t.v.? The dude deserves the review if it is as bad as the critic says it is. I was reminded of a review that I wrote of a book that I hated. Part of the reason why I hated it was that I felt the author didn’t respect the audience. It was written by a best-selling adult author and I got the distinct feeling that he didn’t care about teens. I toned down the review, but left it very, very negative. Several other bloggers, who are usually quite positive also weighed in quite negatively. I later learned that the author basically said something along the lines of YA is where the money is. So, no, the author doesn’t respect the YA audience. To me, it shows, but his insipid series hit the best seller lists b/c parents who are fans are purchasing the name. He deserves every harsh review although he is well past the time when they hurt. I assume this restauranteur is in a similar position.
When I think of all the wonderful novels that slip under the radar in the light of these big splashes, it makes me sad and mad. The same might be said for restaurants in NY, or anywhere. It’s a spectacle. It’s in Times Square. The guy can afford it. The tourists and their dollars will be drawn to it and away from the gems that may be a bit off the beaten path, but unique and well-deserving.
My 2 cents. Cheers!
bk
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Read the review last night. Wow. Nasty, but you can’t stop reading it!
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