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?

Good for you! Hopefully you don't eat fish or seafood either as the inhuman farms for fish and seafood are as horrid as the rest of them.

Of course, there are people who also say plants have feelings and respond to kindness and talking, music and pleasant surroundings...so there's that.

That's true, migrant workers who harvest fruits and vegetables are not treated well at all. Then there is the coffee crops, the tea crops, cacao harvesting....and we are supposed to think it's okay to eat ants, grasshoppers and crickets....

If one tries, they could find fault with everything, including water to drink, to bathe in etc. Quite a way to lose weight all in all.

Yes, she handles it quite well and better than others would.

It becomes baiting when you are told by the person that you are done on the subject and they won't quit. Annoying and does the exact opposite of its intent. Well, it's a two-fold intent. To try and change minds followed by castigating and denigrating those that don't agree with them and fall on the floor in utter misery. Or would that be "udder misery"?

👏👏👏STANDING OVATION!!!! 👏👏👏

Well put and much better than anything I would write.

FOIs gras? Not much you can do as it's a fair review.

We are around 500 posts in - it's not FOIE GRAS!! RTFT!!

Erm a vegan eats no animal flesh, the main difference between the two (plant and animal) is one has a functioning nervous system and one doesn’t 😉

🤣

All the best in life with your spitefulness.

Asking someone why they’re indifferent to animal suffering, is not baiting, it’s a question 😆

We are not talking about abuse in different settings, I am talking about animal rights, abusing animals doesn’t make it right because abuse happens in other places. Using emotive language is an affective way to raise issues when discussing a cause, majority of people use it in protests and petitions.

Would you have reacted the same way if I had spoken out about children’s/women’s rights and used emotive language?
Or does it only matter because it’s pricked your conscience and you’re responding by being defensive?
You very much come across as being defensive because your choices have come into discussion.

@PriOn1 Oh and humane slaughter, since when has slitting a throat been considered humane, it is used by humans to make them feel better about eating animals.

@Coffeeandcake15 you must have an incredibly understanding employer!!

Slaughter is slaughter. There's nothing humane about it that's for sure.

I don’t drink milk, eat dairy or consume the flesh of animals. Not since the day I saw a video of a calf being separated from its mother and taken to a fattening cage and after watching Earthlings, that was all I needed to see.

when was “the day” @Coffeeandcake15 and how old were you out of interest?

I am having chicken curry tonight for my dinner can't wait.

@Coffeeandcake15 Leaving a review for a restaurant you haven't visited is sad and pathetic. If you object to certain items on the menu then lobby higher up the supply chain. If you think veal is cruel then lobby in parliament not your local restaurant.

It would appear @Coffeeandcake15 spends her time lobbying mumsnetters on AIBU more than anything else!

@Beetrootlover82 It seems you spend your time trying to pick on people at any opportunity, are you @Cleoforever by any chance? 😬

So people encouraging people to boycott places due to ethical reasons is unheard of, it’s not, it’s been happening for years.

Who’s that?! What was their point? But no not me.

id just like to know what you do in RL about this issue? 🤷‍♀️ or is it just limited to mumsnet?

Ah scrolled upthread. Deleted post. Intrigued!!

Why are you asking what I do in RL, I work to earn a living, I don’t pay for the slaughter of animals, I don’t support the meat industry. It’s not up to me to do more than that, by not buying and demanding a product I am not contributing to animals being killed for their flesh. If I did anything in RL, I’d be met with the same ignorance as the people on here. I hope that’s answered your question.

no I meant in terms of raising awareness of your passionate views on this issue

you support the reviewer. Have you done similar?