NJ Zagat Annual Survey

[Rail Paul]

Zagat has opened its annual restaurant survey to any diner who wishes to participate. No fee is required, and you'll receive, they say, a free copy of the NJ survey.

The website is Zagat

and you select the active survey for NJ. If you're not already registered with Zagat, you may do so, free of charge. The choices are divided among regions of the state, and by multiple town clusters within the region.

I wanted to cast a vote for An American Grill, which isn't one of pre-determined Mendham-Randolph area choices, so I had to use the write in process. You may vote for multiple restaurants if you wish. If you select write in, that opens up a new box, where you enter the name, town, etc and add the scores for food, service, witty comments, etc.

Other Zagat surveys are currently open in other markets.

[Curlz]

Zagat has opened its annual restaurant survey to any diner who wishes to participate. No fee is required and you'll receive, they say, a free copy of the NJ survey.

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Fwiw, I've done this before, and they do indeed send you a copy of the book at no charge. Great for looking up addresses/phone numbers.

[Lreda]

Thanks Paul but it ain't happening. They'll never put me in after I've dissed them over the last two years. How can a restaurant that has been reviewed well by the NY Times, won best New American in NJ Monthly 7 years running, received very good to excellent in The Star-Ledger & Daily Record over a ten year period not be listed as a "Choice in the Mendham-Randolph area? Every person that posts here regularly on egullet and has dined at my place could write-in and the only thing that would get me is another year of disappointment. This time of year always pisses me off. My cusstomers last year or the year before had a write in campaign for me and over 130 votes were ignored. I feel like Gore in Florida during 00'.

[glenn]

I sense a sore topic has once again arisen :)).

If it helps any Lou, I'll vote for you even though I've yet to eat at American Grill, though I keep meaning to.

[Lreda]

I'll trade you a Grill for A Melt.

[Curlz]

But Lou, don't you still think it's better for them to see your name over and over again?!? Sorta like sticking it to 'em, as far as I'm concerned! And it didn't keep me from adding you anyway, so PFFFFFT!

[glenn]

I think Lou should hang up a sign, PROUDLY NOT REVIEWED BY ZAGAT or TIM WON'T EVER GET A RESERVATION HERE.

[rooftop1000]

Greetings all

just wanted to say I had never even heard of An American Grill until last week but everyone here seems to love it sooooo..... I reviewed it on Zagats. As soon as i find myself another cushy corporate feeding ( ya know 7-3 monday to friday) job I will head over for dinner

tracey

[dmccoac]

Does American Grill have its own web site ?

[pete ganz]

An American Grill

[Kim WB]

Greetings all

just wanted to say I had never even heard of An American Grill until last week but everyone here seems to love it sooooo..... I reviewed it on Zagats. As soon as i find myself another cushy corporate feeding ( ya know 7-3 monday to friday) job I will head over for dinner

tracey

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no offense to Tracey, as I am sure her intent was good..but this certainly illustrates why Zagat's isn't very useful beyond confirming hours of operation.

Are there no controls as to wheter a reviewer has actually been there?

[tommy]

Are there no controls as to wheter a reviewer has actually been there?

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unlikely. one would think that the system relies on people being honest.

[Wiener]

just my 2 cents....I work for a one of the largest European banks in NYC and very often, people from Europe come here for business for a week or for a month or whatever, and the only source they use for restaurants is ZAGATS.....kind of sad that the book is often the sole source for information......

there is a ZAGATS on almost every desk in the bank :(

[tommy]

it would be sad if zagats consistently gave horrible recommendations of horrible restaurants. i've not found that to be the case necessarily, especially in large cities, which is where much of the readership is likely interested in dining. before egullet and chowhound, i ate pretty well with more than a little help from zagats. i happen to each much better now, but i don't think that's due to zagats being shit and every other source of info being so wonderful. there are just more sources now, and i'm a bit smarter now.

the NJ zagats, however, has always been somewhat of a joke in my opinion. it probably suffers from too few good restaurants and too few diners.

Edited November 16, 2004 by tommy (log)

[Tracy K.]

I second, third, and fourth the opinion that Zagat has become nothing but a source for phone numbers. I noticed a decided decline once they opened up the web to reviews. One used to have to fill out a form by hand. The Chicago version this year is nothing but negativity all around. Obviously the concept has grown too big for its britches; and I wonder if web surfers simiply log on to trash places they've never tried just to pass the time.

(Formerly lived in Hawthorne....suffering serious White Manna withdrawl)

[menton1]

Zagat has opened its annual restaurant survey to any diner who wishes to participate. No fee is required, and you'll receive, they say, a free copy of the NJ survey.

The website is  Zagat

and you select the active survey for NJ. If you're not already registered with Zagat, you may do so, free of charge. The choices are divided among regions of the state, and by multiple town clusters within the region.

I wanted to cast a vote for An American Grill, which isn't one of pre-determined Mendham-Randolph area choices, so I had to use the write in process. You may vote for multiple restaurants if you wish.  If you select write in, that opens up a new box, where you enter the name, town, etc and add the scores for food, service, witty comments, etc.

Other Zagat surveys are currently open in other markets.

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You could apparently write in American Grill 1000 times and it still would not make the list in the published issue. Zagat does not use a credible independent auditing firm so they can come up with any result they desire.

After the pages and pages of agreement about the non-credibility of Zagat on Egullet on many forums, I am amazed that some continue to discuss Zagat like it is a serious guide to restaurant-goers' opinions It is quite doubtful that one's vote is counted they way they say it is....

Edited November 18, 2004 by menton1 (log)

[tommy]

perhaps if we all write in and completely trash AAG they'll get in. hey lou, you know what they say about publicity.

who on egullet has been discussing zagat as if it were a serious source of restaurant reviews?

[Lreda]

O.K. Just received a call from Zagat's telling me that I've "been voted" in for the 2006 edition coming out in two weeks and was one of the highest rated in the state. We'll see....

In addition for a $169.00 tab, I'll get a front door plaque and a crystal something or another stating our inclusion in the 2006 edition.

This should be interesting.

[Randi]

perhaps if we all write in and completely trash AAG they'll get in.

Hey! It must have worked!

[pete ganz]

Congrats Lou! (I think?)

Should be great for business.

[Curlz]

perhaps if we all write in and completely trash AAG they'll get in.

Hey! It must have worked!

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Er...congrats?

If nothing else, we all know this will bring at least a few additional customers through your door, Lou!

[Lreda]

perhaps if we all write in and completely trash AAG they'll get in.

Hey! It must have worked!

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Er...congrats?

If nothing else, we all know this will bring at least a few additional customers through your door, Lou!

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Every year this shit opens a new can of worms. How can a restaurant that's been open almost 11 years not be included with rating. I've called their NJ offices and can't get a answer. I must think of as new stratagy. Can I call the press and tell them I wish to be removed?

The thought process shall begin now with a libation.