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 then you agree that it’s ok for a farmer to put a bull in a field and impregnate a cow that way ?
again, you make out animals are humans… I actually don’t think a cow thinks ‘ omg look there’s a human raping me’ the cow is on heat when they are artificially inseminated and readily accept that ‘rod’ as you put it, just as they would a bull … the problem is with your arguments is that they are all half truths and made to sound all emotive … it doesn’t hurt the cow and if there were a bull there it’d hardly be any different . These aren’t ‘wild’ animals .

I’m not defensive in the least .. I don’t have to be… I know exactly my beliefs and I don’t need to be defensive about them lol

@Coffeeandcake15 @Beetrootlover82
Beetroot lover - thanks for the support. My heart originally sank so your message cheered me hugely. I am a huge fan of Baxter's baby beetroot and try to have a jar in the fridge. I suspect CC15 is actually the person who left the Review in the Cafe.

CC15... I would suggest you read Jeremy Bentham who believed that Dogs should have the right to vote. Did you know that vegan Dr Martens cost the same as leather ones? Yet vegans complain about how expensive they are... When it comes to discussing Ethics, I usually can't be bothered as I'm rather qualified in that area. Even the people I know with Doctorates in it would rather play in Bands. I respect Vegan restaurants. I don't demand to know why I can't have a rare steak and I'm polite enough to not ask how ethically sourced their products are. Palm oil, coconut oil and milk and the horrific effects of almond milk on animals and the environment seem to topics most vegans don't have answers for.

Maybe you should actually look up how veal is grown these days in the uk before you start talking about crates and not being able to move around etc because, once again you obviously haven’t done your homework. Crates for calves were made illegal in the uk years ago.. but it suits your agenda to stick with that narrative doesn’t it. I really can’t be bothered arguing with someone who obviously just wants to put the worst case scenario out there even if it’s not true and once again , that kind of rhetoric doesn’t do your cause any good at all

It seems that many, including Bill Gates, are trying to get us to eat bugs instead of meat. I guess to people like him, bugs have no rights.

Humans are omnivores and if they wish to change to totally herbivores, more power to them. I hate tofu (besides...soy) and would soon tire of beans and lentils. I would not get a varied enough diet being a herbivore exclusively. And that's fine by me.

You're offended by my suggestion that you start a thread about recipes if you want to gather some?

You'd be even more offended if I told you that nobody is fooled and it's a blatant (and weak) attempt at deflection while painting yourself as oh-so-breezy. So I won't.

I was talking about farrowing crates, that pigs are forced to stay in during their pregnancy and for the remainder of the time after giving birth.
I didn’t mention veal in that post, so don’t assume I’m talking about that.
No one is asking you to argue and I’m not arguing, I’m having a discussion.

I neither wear DM and don’t intend to, I don’t drink almond milk, or use coconut oil and avoid palm oil because of deforestation but to be clear animal agriculture is the biggest cause of deforestation and climate change. As I said above I’m not a saint and don’t intend to be, I’m also mostly talking about the meat industry and the abuses/ethics behind it and why I won’t support the industry or eat meat.

You are clearly defensive and it shows in your posts whether you agree or not. Again restraining an animal to have an object and arm inserted into a body isn’t natural, a female cow in the field can and will give body language cues to deter the bull from mounting her and is able to move away, both are completely different, one is natural and one is not. It’s also funny how you say it doesn’t hurt the cow as if you’re talking fact, how do you know that? You’re not a cow.

Lol maybe your definition of ‘defensive’ are totally different to mine then, that’s fine.

Once again you give half truths … unless a cow is ready and on heat , they will not be artificially inseminated because it would be a waste of time. People are more likely to know about dogs and cats in heat so know what I mean when I say that ‘naturally’ they try and humo anyone and anything.

that’s what I don’t like about this type of discussion,,, it’s always one sided … I understand the argumaneta fully, but what I don’t understand is those people who believe them, then have to start making things up instead of relying on the truth . The cows don’t even flinch because they are on heat . As I mentioned before , animals are different to humans and you are trying to out human traits in to animals.

its interesting that many vegans are happy to have wild animals in zoos their entire lives but start shouting about domesticated animals .

Well being as the thread , before you changed it , was about selling veal , it was a natural assumption….

mai you think that farrowing crates shouldn’t be used … what you really should be saying is that pigs should be bred back to what they used to be … once again it’s down to what type of pig is used ,. Eating ‘pork’ does not necessarily mean the use of farrowing crates … this is why framing is leaning towards the old breeds … without a crate with those huge breeds , piglets die .. squashed by their mothers even if they have space … your argument is backwards

I didn’t change the thread, I made my point and others responded.

It’s strange how you seem to KNOW cows like having rods put into their genitals and forearms into their anuses and pigs are HAPPY to be kept in crates during pregnancy and birth. How can you speak as fact?
If you are really ok with that system then maybe you need to look at why you’re ok with that.

And yes 60% of pigs are kept in farrowing stalls, so buying and eating pork is supporting the use of them and here’s some scientific evidence for you disproving your point.

‘Scientific research shows that gestation crates cause physical and psychological suffering to sows, including lameness due to weaker bones and muscles, abrasion injuries, cardiovascular problems, digestive problems, and urinary tract problems.’

^^If you disagree with animals suffering, then why consume animals?

I was planning on cooking Jerk pork tonight with salad and baby potatoes or jacket potatoes.

Attaching article.
I know this is from PETA but it is the science on the subject of humans natural foods.

That’s an interesting read too. I was going to mention the health risks but I think I’m disliked enough for my ‘extremist’ views 🙂

Is eating meat really worth the misery of these poor sows forced to live in confinement, when there are more ethical choices available?

I better go defrost the pork 😋

Someone give Humanbiology some attention, they're frigging desperate.

Coffee and cake will save the day.

PETA? LOL! I believe their studies as much as I believe the "doctors" who tell us the COVID was no big deal and the vaccines are the cause of all our problems.

PETA is just a cereal organization who will say anything and call it "science". HHHHHoooooo---HHHHHHuuummmmm!!!

Cereal organization=filled with flakes and nuts.

There has been lots of controversy over PETA but sites such as Cancer Research UK support their evidence and have stated a diet of red (lamb, beef and pork) and processed meat is linked to cancer and is considered a carcinogenic (cancer causing).

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/diet-and-cancer/does-eating-processed-and-red-meat-cause-cancer

jesus christ talk about derail

op if youre near me i'll happily eat at your restaurant

I wouldn’t bother @Coffeeandcake15
just post the science.

The science mentioned by peta isn’t from vegans or anything
People can’t argue with that that’s why they resort to insults.

I think you’ll find the same happens on the majority of MN threads.

not to this extent

and its bloody rude

I like to see restaurants reply to feedback good or bad. It shows they listen to their customers. Plus it shows a bit of passion for what you do as long as it's professionally and courteously written obviously