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Ugh. Worst Meal Ever. Should I Review or No?

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Started 3 years ago by swampkitty
Latest reply from swampkitty

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restaurants

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columbusfoodie
West Side
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Once in a while I encounter a restaurant where the food is so godawful that I'd slit my wrists rather than go back again. Tonight was one such night.
Problem is, it is a West Side institution, been around for 50+ years, etc. Since the meal was so very very bad (not one redeeming part, it all sucked, and I can detail why), would it be fair for me to slaughter this particular sacred cow? And if I do, should I include the unappetizing pictures that show in detail why the meal was so horrible?
I usually make a second visit before writing a negative review, but I can't see that happening here. Problem is, I went here based on a positive Columbus Alive review, plus positive Yahoo/Citysearch feedback. Do I need to put my experience out there as a warning? Just curious as to what the rest of you feel would be the "ethical" thing to do in this situation.

Posted 3 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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swampkitty wrote Once in a while I encounter a restaurant where the food is so godawful that I'd slit my wrists rather than go back again. Tonight was one such night.
Problem is, it is a West Side institution, been around for 50+ years, etc. Since the meal was so very very bad (not one redeeming part, it all sucked, and I can detail why), would it be fair for me to slaughter this particular sacred cow? And if I do, should I include the unappetizing pictures that show in detail why the meal was so horrible?
I usually make a second visit before writing a negative review, but I can't see that happening here. Problem is, I went here based on a positive Columbus Alive review, plus positive Yahoo/Citysearch feedback. Do I need to put my experience out there as a warning? Just curious as to what the rest of you feel would be the "ethical" thing to do in this situation.
I, for one, wish to be warned before I stumble into it.
Sacred cows and outmoded notions of 'journalistic ethics' be damned!

Posted 3 years ago #
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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If you had a bad meal at the Florentine, you've joined a group of everyone who's ever eaten there.
The place is awful.

Posted 3 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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That's a tough question. I'm with you, I usually give a place a second chance before I'll even say very much negative about it, just because any place can have an off night. But if you seriously can't bring yourself to go back, I guess I'd either nix the review, or write it with a preface saying, "I have to confess, I broke my own rule of giving places a second chance, but there was no freakin' way I was going back to this place, so it was this or nothing."

Posted 3 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Bear wrote "I have to confess, I broke my own rule of giving places a second chance, but there was no freakin' way I was going back to this place, so it was this or nothing."
Yes. An excellent preface.

Posted 3 years ago #
columbusfoodie
West Side
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Coremodels wrote If you had a bad meal at the Florentine, you've joined a group of everyone who's ever eaten there.
The place is awful.
Not the Florentine. This place is way, way more casual than that.

Posted 3 years ago #
columbusfoodie
West Side
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Bear wrote That's a tough question. I'm with you, I usually give a place a second chance before I'll even say very much negative about it, just because any place can have an off night. But if you seriously can't bring yourself to go back, I guess I'd either nix the review, or write it with a preface saying, "I have to confess, I broke my own rule of giving places a second chance, but there was no freakin' way I was going back to this place, so it was this or nothing."
Agreed, although you've put it a lot more diplomatically than I would have/maybe will. Maybe I'll make this review a CU exclusive? The pictures are so disgusting that I don't want them sullying up my blog. Seriously. If I look at them for too long, I begin to feel a little sick because it is *so* not agreeing with me (or Paul, for that matter).
I'm beginning to have eater's regret in the worst kind of way. And this coming from someone who has a cast iron stomach.

Posted 3 years ago #
catnfiddle
Giant Corncob District
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Perhaps you could find a brave volunteer in whom you can confide the venue so that this person can give a second opinion as your proxy. I'm not volunteering myself because I'm fasting until tomorrow sundown, but maybe someone else could give it a shot?

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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swampkitty wrote Not the Florentine. This place is way, way more casual than that.
Starliner was the first place to pop into my head. ;) I've only been once or twice, but think that place is pretty overhyped. Most menu items seem average at best.
Anyway, I say post it. A second chance is always nice, but never necessary if you're not getting paid to write a professional review.
I wrote up a pretty negative review of a place based on one visit and didn't really get any flak about that angle.

Posted 3 years ago #
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Walker wrote
swampkitty wrote Not the Florentine. This place is way, way more casual than that.
Starliner was the first place to pop into my head. ;) I've only been once or twice, but think that place is pretty overhyped. Most menu items seem average at best.
How funny, that's exactly the place I was thinking of when I said I haven't tried tons of places CU'ers recommend :shock:

Posted 3 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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Bad reviews are just as helpful as good reviews, especially if you have earned the trust of your readers, which you certainly have.

Posted 3 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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yes, but how can we be sure she wasn't paid off in free food for this review?
:D

Posted 3 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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The suspense is KILLIN me! Let's have it already....

Posted 3 years ago #
drew

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Personally, to some degree, I'm inclined to place less trust in a reviewer who doesn't occasionally give bad reviews.
IIRC, you've written less than flattering reviews before... is it the 'west side institution' part that's giving you cold feet?

Posted 3 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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joev wrote Bad reviews are just as helpful as good reviews, especially if you have earned the trust of your readers, which you certainly have.
That is the real issue, right? It has absolutely nothing to do with ethics and everything to do with confidence.
Take your stand and take the licks or accolades that go with it.
A.

Posted 3 years ago #
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Coremodels wrote If you had a bad meal at the Florentine, you've joined a group of everyone who's ever eaten there.
The place is awful.
Ha! I was about to type the same thing! :lol:

Posted 3 years ago #
some dude in clintonville
Clintonville (obviously)
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If it's a west side institution that's been around for 50 years, you certainly wouldn't be the first to give it a bad review. They've probably heard what you have to say quite a few times before. People keep coming, so they probably don't mind.
I say let 'er rip! You aren't a good foodie if you don't give a negative review every now and then.
And it's not like Cbus is going to be batting .1000 when it comes to great eateries. There's always going to be some duds :wink:

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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Drew wrote Personally, to some degree, I'm inclined to place less trust in a reviewer who doesn't occasionally give bad reviews.
+1

so do share I mean its a review that's what there for lets hear it.
You could always go again to let it try for better .

Posted 3 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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This thread does not deliver! :evil:

Posted 3 years ago #
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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I keep trying to think of other 50+ year old West Side venues (Starliner isn't even close to that, is it?!?).

Posted 3 years ago #