In this fortnightly series, Viva’s resident dining-out editor answers reader questions on where, how and what to eat. This time, can you trust TripAdvisor reviews?
Do you ever look up TripAdvisor reviews before choosing a restaurant? If I’m choosing between, say, two Italian restaurants I’ll always choose
the 4.3 star one over the 4.1 star one. Am I being ridiculous?
No, not ridiculous, but I want you to keep a few things in mind. Next time you’re in the line for airport security, take a look around you. These are the people telling you what to put in your mouth. Are you still going to go where they send you?
Actually, it’s worse than that. Of the 30 or so people in your field of vision as you remove your steel-buckled belt, let’s imagine six of them thought the restaurant they visited at The Base in Hamilton was the greatest Italian restaurant to exist outside of Rome; another six thought it was the sort of place they wouldn’t let their dog eat. The remaining 18 didn’t feel so strongly either way, so they didn’t bother leaving a review. Jackie, you’re not visiting a 4.2 star restaurant; you’re visiting a restaurant that diners with enough time on their hands have rated either 5 stars or 1 star.
Of course, as a professional restaurant reviewer, I have a vested interest in convincing you to listen to me rather than some online scoring system: if too many people read TripAdvisor instead of my reviews, I’m out of a job. I guess it all comes down to whether you trust me, or think I’m acting in self-interest. For what it’s worth, I think you should trust me; after all, I’m rated 4.3 on TripAdvisor.
Do you have any restaurant-related questions or dining-out dilemmas? Jesse Mulligan is here to help.
Email Jesse at Viva@nzherald.co.nz and tell him what you need. Where and what do you like to eat? How much do you want to spend? If you’re visiting, where are you staying while you’re in town? Who are you eating with? Does anybody have access issues?
What you’ve asked, and what he’s shared.