A recent exchange on Chowhound France reminded me of a gripe I have with many food/restaurant reviewers or commentators. They never, or hardly ever, write a negative review/report. Ok I realize if you’re being paid by a glossy magazine, they don’t want negative reviews.
I and a popular French food reviewer had the silly idea of writing an article on what Alec Lobrano subsequently called “zombie restaurants,” much beloved by Yankee tourists, like L’Ami Louis but pitching it to publishers turned out rather badly.
And I’m told by those who follow sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp, that only folks with a gripe or who have never tasted a real sauce, complain or go nuts over a restaurant they tumble onto in France.
But I know others, who boldly confess they suck up a bad meal and never report on it because otherwise they wouldn’t be comp’t to the next one.
I also know 2 people who won’t post anymore on Chowhound France because of the attacks they’ve suffered because of their negative comments, one by me unfortunately, and have chosen to blog rather than contribute to websites like Chowhound.
I’m a pathetic follower/reader of French food news/critiques, and to my memory, failing as it is, only the old G/M and Emmanuel Rubin, ever publish(ed) a negative review.
Don’t our readers want our opinions - good, bad or indifferent?
Omertà is bad. Bad!