I've been visiting e-gullet for several weeks now and I must say that there are some bitter and angry people that post to this site. It amazes me how they have appointed themselves judge, jury and executioners for validating or invalidating the thoughts of others. The great thing about this country is that we have the right to agree or disagree under our 1st amendment protections, the sad part is that some people just abuse that right. What I am getting at is that, to quote ngatti's shorthand, "IMHO" restaurant reviews are the expressions of what a person experienced while having several meals at an establishment. Granted, we as readers, may be annoyed or enthralled by what the reviewer had to say but it's just an opinion. How many times have you gone to a movie that got great reviews and you've walked out scratching your head wondering what someone else saw because you thought it sucked. OR the opposite where a movie got god awful reviews but you loved it. The same applies to restaurant reviews. They are merely a service or as some on this site like to think of them, a disservice. Never the less, I read the Pastel's review and don't get what the problem is. Dodge, mr happy happy joy joy boy do I need to get laid, probably sat waiting on his computer until the record posted the latest review sometime in the middle of the night so he could pounce and with his already jaundiced view, point out everything wrong in Ms. Perry's review. Dodge old boy, haven't you ever gone to a restaurant and had a few disappointing minor things but loved the overall feel of the place? I doubt it since it doesn't seem that you like anything. My understanding of 3 stars is that the place is not perfect but it's better than good, if Ms. Perry felt that the place was better than good, so be it. YOu should go there and eat and see if you agree. KNowing you, I'll bet you won't just like it or go for that matter so you can have more negative vibes to put out there. Why don't you take the angry chef Ngatti with you. Another one who sits by the monitor waiting to pounce. THe record has toooooooo many reviewers. Puhleeeze pal. It's a small paper, do you think they could afford a full-timer? I doubt it, but then again that is to qoute you "IMHO". Ngatti, it is clear from your posts that you obviously despies restaurant reviewers from anywhere. You have the typical, lowlevel wanna be a bigtime chef mentality of "they are out to get me". Do you really believe that? I don't, what good would it do for a reviewer or newspaper to hurt restaurants? I have one question for you, when you were reviewed, did you get a bad one? Did you think your "chicken parmagiano ala ngatti" rated a 4 and you got a 2? Should your grilled sirloin with truffled barolo reduction have warranted a 4 star because you decided to finish the sauce with truffle butter? I loved your line "no mention of the chef/owner". Why? Is it that you weren't mentioned in your review? YOur one shot at infamy? Cheers to rail paul who at least has the sense enough to look with clear eyes and make the decision for himself that reviews are just what they are nothing more nothing less. In the immortal words of Stan Lee: "Nuff said!"
