I learned you cannot trust Yelp.

[IheartMickey]

A small buffet restaurant near my home had great reviews on there, and they have a cheap lunch buffet so we decided to give it a try.

It was disgusting. There was American, Chinese and sushi. Oddly the only thing that wasn't bad was the fresh rolled sushi. I am never trusting Yelp again!

 

[jgh]

Were they customer reviews?

 

[BearcatsFan]

A small buffet restaurant near my home had great reviews on there, and they have a cheap lunch buffet so we decided to give it a try.

It was disgusting. There was American, Chinese and sushi. Oddly the only thing that wasn't bad was the fresh rolled sushi. I am never trusting Yelp again!

Have you tried Urbanspoon? I've found it to be fairly accurate (for my area, anyway).

 

[Christine]

It's not Yelp's fault!!! It's people.

You are learning that there are many people who would be pleased as punch eating a well seasoned bottom of a shoe!!

In my office, six of us can go to a luncheon and there is one girl in our crowd who ALWAYS thinks the food is wonderful. Generally, that luncheon food is pretty bad. We have another girl who dislikes mostly everything. I have been amazed at what people consider to be good food. Some people just love buffets because they can eat a lot. They don't overly care for the quality.

 

[dgthree]

I agree with the previous posters who are blaming the reviewers. Also, make sure the dates are good. A restaurant might have been great in 2010 but not so much now...

 

[IheartMickey]

Were they customer reviews?

Yes, there were 9! All giving 4 or 5 stars. I don't know if it's because I'm from NY and used to pretty good food, but I'm not a food snob! It was just really bad!

 

[IheartMickey]

If I had found my way to Disney University I was going to head to the Poly afterwards to see if they had Tonga Toast. I've heard so much about it on here and I'm dying to try it.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

I read Yelp and Urbanspoon and sometimes write reviews of places I've been.

Usually the reviews I read are accurate.

But I have been known to write more than one review for the same place. Usually a place I liked but has since gone down hill. Example, a place I named as the best Chinese takeout in the neighborhood in 2010 moved to my "doesn't like" list in 2012 when they served me an inedible meal.

Like everything else, take the reviews (good and bad) with a grain of salt.

 

[WDSearcher]

Yes, there were 9! All giving 4 or 5 stars. I don't know if it's because I'm from NY and used to pretty good food, but I'm not a food snob! It was just really bad!

It seems a bit drastic to not trust the entire Yelp site ever again because the reviews on this one restaurant didn't match your experience.

Double-check WHEN the reviews came in, because that can make a difference. Also ... peoples' tastes differ. Just because YOU didn't like it doesn't mean that the people who rated 4 and 5 stars are wrong. You chose the restaurant based on Yelp reviews and it didn't work out. So ... post your own Yelp review and say why it wasn't good. And remember that part of the reason you chose the restaurant was because it was cheap. If someone gives an inexpensive restaurant 4 stars, they're not necessarily saying it's the best food in the world. They're saying that it's good food for the price you're paying.

 

[wiigirl]

Have you tried Urbanspoon? I've found it to be fairly accurate (for my area, anyway).

I really like Urbanspoon....even has as an app on my phone.

I do though take the reviews with a grain of salt....

 

[WDSearcher]

If I had found my way to Disney University I was going to head to the Poly afterwards to see if they had Tonga Toast. I've heard so much about it on here and I'm dying to try it.

You should wait until after you get your ID so that you can get your Disney Discount!

 

[IheartMickey]

You should wait until after you get your ID so that you can get your Disney Discount!

I was thinking about that too.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

There are companies out there who's sole purpose is to go around on social media sites like Yelp to promote restaurants.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Seems that whenever you look up "Best Burger" or "Best Italian Food", you'll find that McDonalds and Olive Garden are invariably near the top of the list wherever in the country you go. As a few pp suggested, take these reviews with a large grain of salt.

 

[cabanafrau]

There are companies out there who's sole purpose is to go around on social media sites like Yelp to promote restaurants.

That's becoming epidemic across social media, for all types of business. Even Disney has faced its share of criticism for pixie dusted chatter bouncing around the ether.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

It's not Yelp's fault!!! It's people.

You are learning that there are many people who would be pleased as punch eating a well seasoned bottom of a shoe!!

In my office, six of us can go to a luncheon and there is one girl in our crowd who ALWAYS thinks the food is wonderful. Generally, that luncheon food is pretty bad. We have another girl who dislikes mostly everything. I have been amazed at what people consider to be good food. Some people just love buffets because they can eat a lot. They don't overly care for the quality.

I agree.

I find the same problem with recipe sites or pinterest reviews. I have come across so many recipes with rave reviews or multiple repins and I try and it's just gross.

 

[tvguy]

Yes, there were 9! All giving 4 or 5 stars. I don't know if it's because I'm from NY and used to pretty good food, but I'm not a food snob! It was just really bad!

Or it's because you're from New York and haven't had pretty good food. Not meaning to be sarcastic, but that statement makes my point. Food is subjective, what's good for someone else may not be good for you, and vis versa. Around here the Urban Spoon and Yelp reviews tend to be about the same. Generally speaking, if a restaurant has been around a while, it's probably good. Bad restaurants don't last....heck even good restaurants have a tough time staying open more than about 7 years.

I always read the reviews, and consider them, but I am willing to try new places.
I treat Yelp and Urban spoon just like Consumer Reports, interesting information, but not always my view point. Last 3 cars I bought had things CR downgraded them for, and each case, they were things that I found were really usefully, and handy.

 

[Christine]

I treat Yelp and Urban spoon just like Consumer Reports, interesting information, but not always my view point. Last 3 cars I bought had things CR downgraded them for, and each case, they were things that I found were really usefully, and handy.

Good example.

I bought a baby stroller once--a Consumer Report Best Buy. Worst stroller I ever owned!

 

[IheartMickey]

It's not like I'll never use Yelp again, but this time I won't trust the reviews as much as I did.

And I've eaten in some great restaurants in Manhattan. I know good food! Il Mulino, Carmine's, Cafeteria, and many others that have been around awhile.

I do think the Chinese food in FL is just drastically different. I cannot judge whether its a good or a bad thing because I think it's one of those things where if you grew up eating a certain food that tastes one way, and you taste it made another way it doesn't seem "right".

It's like the Chicago vs New York pizza argument.

 

[Mariep26]

Sort of off topic but this made me think of the elderly lady in some rural city who wrote the review of the new Olive Garden as if it were the best thing since sliced bread!! It was a hoot. I had to go find it.. so funny!!
http://thestir.cafemom.com/food_party/134433/85yearold_woman_gives_the_olive