Bad Restaurant Review - WWYD?

[foodcritic]

NC for this on the off chance someone works out who we are and decides to do someone similar...

We have a small independent restaurant, been established over 10 years, lots of lovely regular customers, and always grateful for new customers. Many of these come due to our good reviews on various sites such as TripAdvisor, Google, etc. Also we do a fair bit (probably weekly) on local community Facebook pages which also attracts new people and reminds existing customers of what we are doing by way of Chef Specials etc.

Last week a Google review went on with 2 stars - and a comment along the lines of 'sad to see xxxxx on the menu'. (xxxx being a dish that some people find unacceptable, others specifically come to our restaurant to eat as it's difficult to find in supermarkets or other restaurants)

There is a name so I know exactly who has written this, and she's a local person who has never eaten at our restaurant. She has on occasion also used a crying emoji when she sees posts for certain dishes on Facebook that i have posted. (Suspect she's not a meat eater)

So - I have responded to the review with a similarly short comment, basically saying how disappointing someone has given a review based not on eating in the restaurant and experiencing our food/service, but based on a specific menu item.

Reviews are so important to small businesses, we can't afford massive advertising campaigns, and although this one hasn't really put a dent in our overall rating it's so frustrating. But I'm now wondering if I shouldn't have responded as I've made us look as petty as her. What would you have done?

So human suffering and marine life suffering doesn't matter then?

Plus the horrendous environmental and human impact that intensive farming of almonds is having in California and of avocados in central and South America. Making conscious choices doesn’t end with animal products.

You can try and throw all you like at me, I’m not saying I’m perfect but the majority of fruit I buy is either locally sourced or from Spain. I can’t bring myself to compare the rape and murder of animals to fruit and veg pickers I’m afraid.

You’re assuming I eat these things, I mostly eat vegan Quorn, beans, veg and pulses. At the end of the day I’m not paying for the rape, abuse and murder of animals, my conscious is as clear as it can be.

I don’t believe I was talking to you but ta.

I don't agree with this. If someone has an opinion without eating there then I think it's fair enough, as long as they don't claim to have done so.

Examples could be if they witness terrible hygiene; exploitative employment or if the front of house is so rude or discriminatory that they walk away.

The woman mentioned in the OP obviously feels very strongly about veal farming and wants to make a visible point about the restaurant's values. I don't think the food/ drink and service are the only aspects that can be covered in a review.

The OP has the option to reply on the site but didn't do herself any favours in the original wording.

Absolutely. All meat is cruel. I worked in a slaughter house and not a shit was given to where they originated from.

There are some nutters that can find an unethical reason for doing absolutely anything you can mention, including the abuse and practices involved in vegetarian food.

At the end of the day we have to eat and live so get a life, the welfare and environmental standards in the UK are better than anywhere else, if notice was taken of the nutters we would all starve

Rape of animals?

Yes it’s common in the meat industry.

A nutter because I won’t eat flesh from animals that have lived a life of misery and had their throat slit, nice bit of deflection there, I must have pricked your conscience.

Oh I disagree. When I see a proprietor responding factually and calmly I think 🙌🏼

Who by?

You are assuming that a lot of vegans eat that though and still it’s baffling how you can compare nuts and avocados to the murder of billions of animals every year. It’s bizarre that humans are willing to place an animals life at the same value as a plants.

The farmers who are inserting rods into a female animals genitals, impregnating the cows for humans desire to drink cows milk and consume their flesh.

Honey you wanna lay off drinking the kool aid

Oh
@Coffeeandcake15
i assumed you were talking about this sort of rape by farmers

So you think it’s ok to insert a long rod into a female animals vagina in order to impregnate it?
If you’re trying to offend me, it’s not working.

Nope just laughing 🤣😀

@Coffeeandcake15
is talking about this sort of rape.
PETA article

Just thought I’d clarify @Coffeeandcake15 as you’re being trashed on here.

How embarrassing for you, you find rape funny?

OP - I’m late to this thread but my twopenneth is the tone of what you wrote was unprofessional but highlighting a review that is not genuine is fine in my book.

Also if I read a review calling out a restaurant for serving veal/octopus it wouldn’t bother me. I buy all free range (preferably organic) meat from our butchers. I could be offended at someone eating low welfare meat - point is everyone has different tastes, ethical standards, budget etc. and that’s ok.

I know, just for stating facts 🤷🏻‍♀️I’ve never quite understood how someone who doesn’t agree with exploiting a species gets more shit than the people supporting the exploiting of animals.

Guilt?
Ignorance?
Or they just don’t give a shit about anyone or anything other than themselves?

I wouldn’t waste your time.