Travel, Food & Drink Blog
Chef Andrew Zimmern is voicing strong criticism against Yelp, the popular restaurant review platform that has amassed over 330 million user-generated reviews. In a recent Instagram post, he bluntly stated, "Yelp sucks. It just does," questioning the quality and expertise behind the reviews that flood the platform. Zimmern expressed concern that Yelp promotes "crowdsourcing the…
Luce Italian Kitchen has opened its doors in West Little Rock, taking over the former Newk’s space in the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center. This new eatery aims to offer an authentic Italian experience, aligning with its owners’ vision of creating a space that truly reflects their culinary passion. The restaurant’s design embraces a modern yet…
The New York Times began its journey into restaurant reviews in 1859 with a piece by an anonymous critic known only as “the Strong-Minded Reporter of the Times.” This review recounted an impressive dining experience that included a bottle of Veuve Clicquot at the Astor House and Clos Vougeot at Delmonico’s. Over the years, the…
Knowing how to identify legitimate restaurant reviews online is crucial for ensuring a satisfying dining experience. Unfortunately, many reviews are not from actual customers, and about 30% of online reviews are estimated to be fake. In 2022 alone, Google removed 115 million fake reviews across various business sectors, including restaurants. Here are several strategies to…
This week, Ligaya Mishan, the chief restaurant critic for the New York Times, reviews Babbo in Manhattan, which has seen a resurgence with many familiar dishes receiving modern updates under chef Mark Ladner. Originally opened by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich in 1998, Babbo has transitioned to new management with Stephen Starr at the helm….
Google has ramped up the deletion of restaurant and business reviews in 2025, leading to significant impacts on local search visibility and reputation management for companies. An analysis of 60,000 Google Business Profiles reveals that this surge in deletions is not coincidental, but rather the result of automated moderation processes, industry risk assessments, and heightened…
In a timely response to a growing issue, Google has introduced a dedicated reporting tool for businesses, particularly restaurants, targeting the alarming rise of review-based extortion seen on platforms like Google Maps. This new feature allows businesses to report fake reviews and extortion attempts more effectively than before. Restaurant operators have faced an increasing number…
Scammers are increasingly targeting restaurants with fake Google reviews to extort money. This trend, referred to as "review bombing," has raised alarms in the industry, prompting Google to implement new measures to combat the issue. One notable incident occurred on Halloween when Jared Cohen, COO of Protein Bar & Kitchen, started receiving a barrage of…
This week, Ligaya Mishan, a chief restaurant critic for The New York Times, awarded four stars to Yamada, a small kaiseki restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown. This prestigious rating is rare, necessitating extensive personal experience and research from the critic, who revisited Yamada multiple times to ensure its quality. Yamada embodies the intricate artistry of kaiseki,…
In today’s digital age of algorithm-driven recommendations and influencer hype, the demand for thoughtful and ethical restaurant criticism is more crucial than ever. Welcome to our new restaurant critic at the Minnesota Star Tribune, Raphael Brion, who will share insights and reviews about Minnesota’s vibrant dining scene. Brion views restaurants not just as places to…