[YWG] Reliable restaurant reviewers

[prasantrin]

Of the major (and perhaps minor) publications in Winnipeg, which do you find have the most reliable restaurant review(er)s?

Marion Warhaft is infamous (and I mean that in the true sense of the word) in Winnipeg. I recall several years ago when some restaurants were talking of banding together and suing her or demanding her resignation from the WFP. I use her reviews primarily as announcements for new places--there are many places of which I would never have heard until reading about them in her reviews. Of course, only 10% or so end up being keepers, but since I only have so much money to spend on dining out, I suppose I should be thankful for the relatively small number.

(As an aside, does anyone know how old Marion Warhaft is? Rumour has it she's in her 80s, which would add more question to her reliability in my opinion, as one's taste buds do change greatly as one ages. Then again, it certainly would explain why so many of her reviews seem off the mark. Or maybe not, since I've thought that about her reviews for decades.)

The Discrete Diner is often missed in my house, mostly because we're too snooty to read a paper like the Winnipeg Sun . I do read the reviews online when I remember, but I don't read them often enough to have a sense of how reliable they are.

Finally, magazines like Ciao and Where seem to be too biased to be of any use (in my mind).

Given all that, are there any reliable reviewers out there? I understand that taste is very subjective, and so the concept of "reliability" may be problematic here, but let's ask, "Which reviewers do you find most reliable for you, and why?"

[Ariel Schor]

Of the major (and perhaps minor) publications in Winnipeg, which do you find have the most reliable restaurant review(er)s? 

Marion Warhaft is infamous (and I mean that in the true sense of the word) in Winnipeg.  I recall several years ago when some restaurants were talking of banding together and suing her or demanding her resignation from the WFP.  I use her reviews primarily as announcements for new places--there are many places of which I would never have heard until reading about them in her reviews.  Of course, only 10% or so end up being keepers, but since I only have so much money to spend on dining out, I suppose I should be thankful for the relatively small number.

(As an aside, does anyone know how old Marion Warhaft is?  Rumour has it she's in her 80s, which would add more question to her reliability in my opinion, as one's taste buds do change greatly as one ages.  Then again, it certainly would explain why so many of her reviews seem off the mark.  Or maybe not, since I've thought that about her reviews for decades.)

The Discrete Diner is often missed in my house, mostly because we're too snooty to read a paper like the Winnipeg Sun  .  I do read the reviews online when I remember, but I don't read them often enough to have a sense of how reliable they are.

Finally, magazines like Ciao and Where seem to be too biased to be of any use (in my mind). 

Given all that, are there any reliable reviewers out there?  I understand that taste is very subjective, and so the concept of "reliability" may be problematic here, but let's ask, "Which reviewers do you find most reliable for you, and why?"

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I don't find any reviewers in our city truly reliable, and your observations above are quite true. Ciao and Where are paid advertising space, nothing more, nothing less. And don't get me started on our "Newspaper" Critics...objective my ass.

I never, EVER listen to restaurant critics. Who is to say that their tastes will ever resemble yours? And furthermore, if critics get 2 or 3 visits to one space, how is that a way to rate a restaurant? In my opinion, the best way to go about it is to try out places by yourself. If you like the place, go back...most great restaurants not only pride themselves on quality but also on consistency.

Furthermore, associate yourself with people that have similar tastes, likes and dislikes to you. These people could prove themselves really valuable, and if they are true friends, they will give you their honest, (hopefully) unbiased opinion about a place. The rest will be up to you, because you're the only person who truly knows what you like.