Food Critic revealed then banned.

[Boozy]

Of course most restaurants are going to claim that her reviews are "unfair".

Most restaurants I've patronized are lousy. Anyone can open a restaurant, and it seems that anyone does.

Maybe this owner, and others, want her to lower her expectations about what good food and service is to the median level. The level of food and service that most restaurants provide here in North America.

I say, screw that. I want food critics to have high expectations. I want their praise to mean something. Because if I have one night to go out with my husband, I want to eat at a great restaurant.

[Gravekeeper]

Ever hear the saying there is no such thing as bad publicity?

Yes, and its honestly about as accurate as "The customer is always right.".

If there is no such thing as bad publicity, no one would have a problem with a food critic in the first place. This little incident will cause a temporary spike in his business. Which will make more people find out how bad it is faster. Then the word of mouth will likely kill him off.

Word of mouth is the kiss of death.

[protege]

Here's one thing I'd like to know--how is it that her identity was uncovered? I mean, restaurants don't make you show ID to reserve a table. Either her column had her picture on it...or she couldn't keep her mouth shut during the meal. Suppose that her glass wasn't refilled "quickly enough," and it went downhill from there. I have a feeling that she played the "do you know who I am?" or the "food critic" card(s) and someone put two and two together. With that said, I do think there's something missing--how many times on CS, do we hear of customers misrepresenting things? I think that's what happened, and the owner wanted to retaliate by screwing her over.

[AdminAssistant]

It's a food critic's job to be anonymous - using disguises and the like. It's a restaurant owner/chef's job to know who they are anyway and give them the best damn service/food they can. Anthony Bourdain goes into great lengths about that in Medium Raw.

I wouldn't eat at his restaurant. If he was afraid of a review, then who knows *what* is going on.

[Andara Bledin]

Someone who has spent 15 years being an anonymous food critic is unlikely to be throwing weight around, although a single comment to an article by another outed food critic suggests that her husband does when not with her.

However, based on commentary by said previously outed critic, it's unlikely that her career is over or even that heavily affected.

The restaurant owner who over-reacted, on the other hand, will likely be feeling the shockwaves for some time to come.

^-.-^

[Plaidman]

Here's one thing I'd like to know--how is it that her identity was uncovered? I mean, restaurants don't make you show ID to reserve a table. Either her column had her picture on it...or she couldn't keep her mouth shut during the meal. Suppose that her glass wasn't refilled "quickly enough," and it went downhill from there. I have a feeling that she played the "do you know who I am?" or the "food critic" card(s) and someone put two and two together. With that said, I do think there's something missing--how many times on CS, do we hear of customers misrepresenting things? I think that's what happened, and the owner wanted to retaliate by screwing her over.

Easy. Her friend goes "Hey Irene!" shortly after they check in for registeration. Irene isn't name that was used for check in. Irene is a known food critic name and he has new restraunt.

Not that hard to put one and one together mixed with slight paranoia.

[Andara Bledin]

Actually, it gets to be known after a time who even the anonymous critics are.

There comes a point when people start to realize that the only non-famous person in the room must be someone who doesn't want their fame to be recognized. It may not be known that they're critics, but their own anonymity begins to become a flag.

The other outed critic I mentioned (Gold, I think it was) talks about how things change after being outed. And how they don't. Both she and the paper she works for are taking a "business as usual" approach to future reviews.

^-.-^

[Cata]

My general opinion of this is that the restaurant owner didn't violate a confidence - it wasn't his secret to protect, so he was under no obligation to honor it once he found out. The blame there lies with the critic or her party for outing her in the first place.

The subsequent events... well, he was entirely within his rights, but what he did was not a wise move. Throwing her out rather than simply serving her (with or without acknowledging her secret) was a bad move, and he'll be feeling the consequences of that for a while. Outing her publicly will hurt him and his business more than it'll hurt her.