Washington City Paper Restaurant Finder

CityPaper · April 23, 2004

I know I'm risking being flamed as a street teamer, but thought everyone here would be interested in knowing that Washington City Paper's Restaurant Finder is about to go live.

This is our online database of every eatery in town (well, we're trying). The fab thing about it is that restaurant ratings are determined by you--or you if you sign up to be a rater. It's free, simple, and we don't sell or divulge any personal info.

Plus, raters are elligible for free dinners, prizes, special parties, and mostly having your astute comments posted online. This is a separate deal from Todd Kliman's Young & Hungry column (though that will appear in conjunction with the site). This is a place for D.C.-area foodies to share their thoughts on particular eateries. (And it's a very cool and handy way for finding places to eat, cuisines, etc.)

Our database requires that a restaurant receive five ratings (good, bad, or indiffernet) before it shows up as rated and earns one to five coveted Sporks. So, we're asking all food lovers to sign up and start rating.

Did I mention free eats and prizes? (I am such a street teamer!)

The page is here: http://restaurants.washingtoncitypaper.com...s/raterhome.php

Thanks!

Dave Nuttycombe

webmeister

Washington City Paper

webmeister@washcp.com

Steve Klc · April 23, 2004

Todd gets 5 coveted sporks but this new venture gets an "indiffernet" rating from me. Welcome to eG nonetheless, Dave.

babka · April 23, 2004

but bring Todd in to meet his fan club and we might be able to talk... :hmmm:

CityPaper · April 26, 2004

We are busily waxing and polishing Mr. Kliman in anticipation of presenting him at the inaugural Raters Party. Need some more AAA batteries to make the 3-D effect work.

And "indifferent" is OK. We can work with that. Room to grow.

Thanks,

DN

Chef Shogun · July 1, 2004

Info here.

Curious as to what everybody thinks of this scheme. Think it's useful or worthwhile? Will you participate? I signed up and am working on my first review, writing about Raku in Dupont Circle.

Offtopic Forum-Newbie Subquestion: I mainly held off writing about Raku here because I felt that most had probably been there, and while it was a good place, it might not measure up to the caliber of restaurant I've seen discussed at length. What's the protocol for determining what warrants its own thread? (Hosts feel free to move or PM and chop this offtopic bit)

DonRocks · July 1, 2004

Offtopic Forum-Newbie Subquestion: I mainly held off writing about Raku here because I felt that most had probably been there, and while it was a good place, it might not measure up to the caliber of restaurant I've seen discussed at length. What's the protocol for determining what warrants its own thread? (Hosts feel free to move or PM and chop this offtopic bit)

Starting a thread about Raku would be perfectly appropriate, and your views would be welcomed by everyone here.

There is no "official protocol" for starting a new thread, but certainly any major DC DelMarVa restaurant - especially one as notable as Raku - could merit its own discussion. From time-to-time, I scroll through old pages and merge multiple threads about the same restaurant. (I vaguely recall a thread about the WCP restaurant raters from awhile back, so I may in fact find that thread and merge it with this one, although I don't have time to do it now).

Welcome, and please don't be shy!

Rocks.

P.S. In fact let's all welcome you now with a little tune in the great tradition of Barry Manilow. All together now!

Her name was Lo-la

She was a Shogun

mnebergall · July 1, 2004

P.S. In fact let's all welcome you now with a little tune in the great tradition of Barry Manilow. All together now!
Her name was Lo-la
She was a Shogun

Weak!

bilrus · July 1, 2004

I signed up after reading the original thread here, but haven't done anything beyond that.

Chef Shogun · July 1, 2004

I signed up after reading the original thread here, but haven't done anything beyond that.

Egad. For the record, I did a search before I posted and nothing came up, and I consider myself an accomplished googler! :wacko: Oh well.

hillvalley · July 1, 2004

That's okay. Merging threads keep Rocks out of trouble.

For a little while anyway :biggrin:

morela · July 1, 2004

Dear Mr. Nuttycombe (a.ka. CityPaper),

If more of us join, will you guys lobby to the honchos so that my links to Kliman's columns can be evergreen instead of expiring after a measly four weeks?

I'm young & hungry and and am certain that $2.95 could get me to Palena and back on the red line. I wanted to look at "The Raw Deal" again and compare "Pie in the Sky" to Sietsema's review of Sette, but those links are dead, dead, dead. Why not just sell more ad space to Results Gym or The Glut Food Co-op?

Wanna bargain?

Best wishes,

morela

PS: I'm signed up, Dave. My name is meatloaf.

Edited July 2, 2004 by morela (log)

liamdc · July 2, 2004

I'll admit to signing up for this if only to get my two cents in. :cool: I recently got an email from them talking about launching their ratings system online later this month ... around July 20th, I believe.

It's all gonna be VERY interesting. :wacko:

CityPaper · July 6, 2004

Hey! Thanks for joining. And for urging us to lobby the honchos. I'm not sure it will work, but I like the phrase: "lobby the honchos!"

Seriously, there are ways around the dead links, as the columns are online free for a month. (If I say any more, the honchos will have my head! They're living on that $2.95) And the blurb version of Todd's reviews will be part of the Restaurant Finder site, so you can get the gist.

And, yes, the site will be debuting soon soon soon.

Is this enough street-teaming for one day? Hmmm...

Take care,

DN

liamdc · July 12, 2004

For anyone interested, I received this email in my in-box this afternoon. Apparently, the City Paper launches its restaurant finder next Thursday. The link below promises a sneak peek. Don't know if it's only open to subscribers at this point or not.

Yes, I admit. I rated a few places. :hmmm:

For fun, I did a search for all of the restaurants in the DC area that are rated with five "sporks," meaning "excellent." Here's the list: Addie's (Rockville), Afghan Restaurant (Alexandria), Cafe! Cafe! (Arlington), Country Cupboard (Kensington), Kinkead's, Mandalay (College Park), Minibar, Palena, Palena Cafe, El Pollo Rico, Roof Terrace Restaurant & Bar (Kennedy Center), and Sunflower Vegetarian Cafe (Vienna). The vast majority of places appear to have received four sporks, meaning "very good."

Discussion? :raz:

---------------------------

SUBJECT HEAD: CityPaper Restaurant Finder: Come and Get It!

THE WAIT IS (ALMOST) OVER!

Washington City Paper Restaurant Finder is going live on Thursday, July 22.

But as a loyal rater, you get a SNEAK PEEK.

Click on the link below to test-drive the site--search for meals by cuisine,

location, price, rating, and/or other ingenious criteria. Read the insightful

comments of fellow raters, add your own, and please let us know what you think.

Thanks for your ratings and your feedback--and bon appétit!

http://restaurants.washingtoncitypaper.com/finder.php

morela · July 12, 2004

Hey, that exact message, along with some porn and something from a businessman in some village (re: ASSISTANCE), was in my spam box today!

liamdc · July 12, 2004

Hey, that exact message, along with some porn and something from a businessman in some village (re: ASSISTANCE), was in my spam box today!

They say that good things happen in threes, morela! :raz:

morela · July 12, 2004

I have to say, though, after giving it a look, I like the dewey decimal system.

I actually think that GX 8.4 for Wabeck food is about right. :wink:

I get about 4. 259678 and tossed on the fiction shelf.

CityPaper · July 12, 2004

Mmmm...Spam!

Sorry that our blatant attempts to lure D.C. diners is winding up in spam filters. We think the messsages are magically delicious.

As for the preponderance of Sporkarific reviews--well, the database is fluid; results are constantly changing depending on incoming reviews. So today's 4-sporker may be tomorrow's no-chancer as the public's tastes (literally) change and more people weigh in on the Addie's vs. Kinkead's controversy.

Thanks!

DN

DonRocks · July 13, 2004

So today's 4-sporker may be tomorrow's no-chancer as the public's tastes (literally) change and more people weigh in on the Addie's vs. Kinkead's controversy.

It sounds like the theory behind this is that the more people that vote, the more "finely honed" the ratings will be. Should we be looking for harmonic convergence with Washingtonian's reader polls sometime in 2006?

"Honey! It's our anniversary next week!"

"So where will we dine, snookums? I've been dying for some Asian..."

"Hold on, let me go online!"

"Okay let's decide between Benihana and Tony Cheng's!" :laugh:

And what happens when the inertia of months- or years-worth of ratings establish a restaurant at a certain level ... and then the chef leaves overnight? :hmmm:

Mark Sommelier · July 13, 2004

So today's 4-sporker may be tomorrow's no-chancer as the public's tastes (literally) change and more people weigh in on the Addie's vs. Kinkead's controversy.
It sounds like the theory behind this is that the more people that vote, the more "finely honed" the ratings will be. Should we be looking for harmonic convergence with Washingtonian's reader polls sometime in 2006?
"Honey! It's our anniversary next week!"
"So where will we dine, snookums? I've been dying for some Asian..."
"Hold on, let me go online!"
<type type type>
"Okay let's decide between Benihana and Tony Cheng's!"
And what happens when the inertia of months- or years-worth of ratings establish a restaurant at a certain level ... and then the chef leaves overnight?

Same problem with Zagat. Some joint in Florida ( a Red Lobster kinda joint) gets a 29 for food? Huh????? This stuff means nothing.

chuchelo · July 20, 2004

I joined the the restaurant raters and it's fun to try my hand at restaurant reviewing. So far the beta database looks easy to use and helpful as well as there are several ways to sort the information. It will be interesting to see how the launch goes!

DonRocks · July 20, 2004

I joined the the restaurant raters and it's fun to try my hand at restaurant reviewing. So far the beta database looks easy to use and helpful as well as there are several ways to sort the information. It will be interesting to see how the launch goes!

Hello chuchelo, and welcome to eGullet.

A very interesting choice for a first posting.

I'm glad to see the "beta database" looks easy to use, and that you're curious to see how "the launch" goes.

Are you affiliated with The City Paper in any way?

Cheers,

Rocks.

chuchelo · July 20, 2004

Nope, not in any way. This discussion was something I could comment on and I think the whole idea is fun.

DonRocks · July 21, 2004

Nope, not in any way. This discussion was something I could comment on and I think the whole idea is fun.

Then shame on me for being cynical and crabby.

And welcome to the forum! :smile:

chuchelo · July 21, 2004

Thanks, Don!

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