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Anonymous complaints are the way to go. If people don’t want their complaints aired online, they should keep them to themselves. An online blog/forum is a place for people to express themselves.

I think anonymous comments are fine – they bring attention to things local reviewers may not have noticed (yet). But before you post them for everyone to comment on, maybe you should verify certain “facts” stated in them. Granted, most will probably just be opinions from the commentor, but this one (Zorba’s) specifically said there was new ownership, and it seems as if that may not be the case. Just a thought!

Like spraying your entire body with Pam before making love, it’s a slippery slope.

I see it as a chance for people to share their reviews and to confirm or deny what the original poster claims. If the details are too in depth then they might have inside knowledge, angry employee. If it is a over the top bash and insult then it sounds like a one off experience or the competition sounding off.

Guess you have to disclaim it with “this is one persons review, anyone have a similar or opposite experience?”

Positive comments will definitely motivate me to go to dine somewhere, but negative will never stop me from trying and forming my own opinion.

Any post with your name in the “by” line has a direct impact on your cred. Do as you wish, but I’m sure you understand the niche market for anonymous bashing/accolades is saturated.

No restaurant is perfect all of the time, it has to rise (or sink) to a certain level to be discussion worthy.

If the complaint is novel, significant, verifiable and is at the serious restaurant news level that is this blog’s forte then sure, publicize it. If it is just a terse review (good or bad) about a particular restaurant, than send it to Pegasus. They do a great job compiling and logging average reader reviews.

@ rawlins: Great image, and are you trolling for the obligatory “who’s Pam” comment?

I would like to see people with complaints be required to provide proof of identity. Not sure how to do that but Frontburner’s “Your comment is awaiting moderation” might work. I’m in “the bidness” and have seen former (disgruntled) employees say some terrible things about our business on the blog and it’s extremely damaging to our reputation and the livelihood of the employees. That’s unacceptable.

Most people know better than to believe everything they read on teh intarwebz. The rest are generally too stupid or gullible to be concerned with anyway. The whole identifying yourself meme “insiders” seem to have is just stupid. If some unverifiable, anonymous comment ruins your business, well, too bad really.

As for SideDish itself, I trust Nancy’s judgement for what should or should not go up. But I am curious about the Zorba’s post. Why’d you post it Nancy? It seemed specious to me. Did you think so too, and post it to get replies? Or was the sender somebody that you have no reason to doubt?

Let the kvetchers kvetch somewhere else. Chowhound, for example. Keeps you from having you fact-check everything, too.

My reacation to the post… Pointing at your watch is a little rude. Yelling across a restaurant is a little rude. The owner’s response was outstanding. People will be people. No matter how good you are at keeping your cool, there’s someone out there who will get to you. The owner sincerely apologizing and offering to make it right really impressed me. He made me want to go and see for myself.

The original post didn’t make worry about the place too much because I was more suspicious of the diner’s attitude than the waiters. Nancy has a good feel for entertainment and the post was pretty funny. I don’t think the restaurant will suffer for the mention… The owner had the completely appropriate reaction, which I find refreshing considering the behavior of some local restauranteurs.

I was actually the one who forwarded this post to the owner…. I simply used the Contact Us email on their website… He emailed me back and told me his frustration on people being able to post anonymous stuff like this… I encouraged him to post the rebutal. In an instance like this I think it shouls have quickly been discredited and never been published…

Hi, Nancy. Don’t post it as it’s a singular experience. The person writing may never have had Greek cuisine before and didn’t order in concert with his palate. Restaurants have bad days and, as a big fan of Zorba’s, generally speaking I’ve had positive experiences.

Perhaps it is in the way a poster comments his views. Usually if I am posting I like to make some highlights and also state the failures but in a nice way. We are human so sometimes it is likely not to have the same experience every time. I have learned that there are actual people with jobs on the line when it comes to reviews. First time reviewers on whatever posting outlet need to be mindful of this fact.

I have nothing against Nancy as I know she is a professional. The poster in the Zorba’s should also have let the manager know his plight before leaving (in hindsight). I have also not seen the other side of the story from Zorba’s standpoint.