The problem with Yelp, and sites like it

[BarkingGhostar]

I was reading this article and just thought to myself, after Yelp's response, how can any review be valid if it is made before the restaurant has opened for the first time? I could care less that 181 reviews had been written of the Houston location since the place isn't open yet. So how can anyone complain about it in the first place, let alone the staff at Yelp allow for such a thing?

Not saying anything myself because I have not eaten at her restaurant but I find it hard that Yelp allows reviews of something isn't yet in business. These are 181 reviews of a specific location--how can that be of any value?

 

[shortylickens]

I dont trust Yelp anyway, but this is just another reason. Assholes who like to vent their frustration on food.

 

[Exterous]

I think its good for a general overview. If something has 500 reviews and they are all good and a lot come from people with a lot of reviews then its probably a decent place to eat. And if those 500 reviews are all bad its a fair bet to go someplace else

 

[lxskllr]

I've never read a restaurant review. If it looks like something I'd be interested in I go. If it sucks, I usually won't go back.

 

[TallBill]

Yelp has a lot more problems than just that.

For one, people are far more likely to point out bad things than good things. So even if a restaurant is amazing 99% of the time, it'll look like its great 95% of the time time.

For two, you can pay yelp, and they nearly extort you to do so, to make your record look good again. Pay to remove bad reviews.

Like said already, its a good stepping stone to find places to look at.

 

[shortylickens]

Allegedly they have not taken money to axe reviews for many years. And they still claim they never did it to begin with, despite being exposed repeatedly.