Comments on: Dine-Out Vancouver reviews, fair or unfair? http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/2009/01/dine-out-vancouver-reviews-fair-or-unfair/ Random thoughts of restaurants and food in Vancouver, BC! Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:13:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matt http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/2009/01/dine-out-vancouver-reviews-fair-or-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Matt Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:45:34 +0000 http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/?p=618#comment-411 I agree with Shokutsu that a true review should happen over a few visits. I believe Mia Stansby visits the restaurant at least a couple of times when conducting her review. Dine Out is held in the first two months of the year for a reason. In general people are not spending money because they are still recovering from their Christmas credit card bill. This is when restaurants need to attract attention and customers. I would like think restaurants look at this as marketing, a strong impression may convert people or at least leave such a lasting impression on the person that he/she tells 10 of their friends about their fantastic experience. With a potential depression coming coupled with a slow spending month, most restaurants need to push themselves in order to increase the market share. This is the time for companies to spend wisely on marketing not stop it all together. I did not make any reservations for this years DOV. The first year it was offered, the top tier was 25 dollars and I went to over ten restaurants. I did feel my steak at Gotham was of cheaper quality. Now at 38 dollars, I rather just enjoy the main course that I want when I want and not have the appetizer. I agree with Shokutsu that a true review should happen over a few visits. I believe Mia Stansby visits the restaurant at least a couple of times when conducting her review.

Dine Out is held in the first two months of the year for a reason. In general people are not spending money because they are still recovering from their Christmas credit card bill. This is when restaurants need to attract attention and customers. I would like think restaurants look at this as marketing, a strong impression may convert people or at least leave such a lasting impression on the person that he/she tells 10 of their friends about their fantastic experience. With a potential depression coming coupled with a slow spending month, most restaurants need to push themselves in order to increase the market share. This is the time for companies to spend wisely on marketing not stop it all together.

I did not make any reservations for this years DOV. The first year it was offered, the top tier was 25 dollars and I went to over ten restaurants. I did feel my steak at Gotham was of cheaper quality. Now at 38 dollars, I rather just enjoy the main course that I want when I want and not have the appetizer.

]]> By: KimHo http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/2009/01/dine-out-vancouver-reviews-fair-or-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-401 KimHo Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:53:06 +0000 http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/?p=618#comment-401 Hi Melisa, I will highly recommend Parkside. I have heard also good things about Don Francesco. Hi Melisa,

I will highly recommend Parkside. I have heard also good things about Don Francesco.

]]> By: Melisa http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/2009/01/dine-out-vancouver-reviews-fair-or-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Melisa Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:40:10 +0000 http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/?p=618#comment-397 Interesting post indeed I have never participated in the event and was thinking of trying it out this year. Which restaurants would you recommend? I looked through some of the menus and I must agree they arent necesarily 'cheap' like you pointed out. I happen to go to Joe Fortes quite often as I love their seafood tower (1 tier), and I can order everything I want for roughy the same, if not cheaper, than the DOV price for two. Or maybe it's just me cuz I rarely order dessert, an appetizer and entre is already way too much food. Interesting post indeed
I have never participated in the event and was thinking of trying it out this year. Which restaurants would you recommend?

I looked through some of the menus and I must agree they arent necesarily ‘cheap’ like you pointed out. I happen to go to Joe Fortes quite often as I love their seafood tower (1 tier), and I can order everything I want for roughy the same, if not cheaper, than the DOV price for two. Or maybe it’s just me cuz I rarely order dessert, an appetizer and entre is already way too much food.

]]> By: Top Vancouver Restaurants http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/2009/01/dine-out-vancouver-reviews-fair-or-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Top Vancouver Restaurants Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:12:28 +0000 http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/?p=618#comment-386 Fair point. Maybe we need to somehow differentiate the reviews of the restaurants during this event. After all, they are offering some descent discounts during this event, so the food, and even the service is not going to be a good indicator of the restaurant. Fair point. Maybe we need to somehow differentiate the reviews of the restaurants during this event. After all, they are offering some descent discounts during this event, so the food, and even the service is not going to be a good indicator of the restaurant.

]]> By: monchichi http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/2009/01/dine-out-vancouver-reviews-fair-or-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-385 monchichi Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:54:11 +0000 http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/?p=618#comment-385 I reckon it would be a fair review because although they'll have to cut some corners like you said, the reason for them doing the promotion is to gain more regular customers so however they try to save, this should be done in a way that won't compromise on quality. The only thing which I gather might affect the quality slightly is the large number of customers at some smaller restaurants which might usually not be equipped to cook for that many people. I reckon it would be a fair review because although they’ll have to cut some corners like you said, the reason for them doing the promotion is to gain more regular customers so however they try to save, this should be done in a way that won’t compromise on quality. The only thing which I gather might affect the quality slightly is the large number of customers at some smaller restaurants which might usually not be equipped to cook for that many people.

]]> By: shokutsu http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/2009/01/dine-out-vancouver-reviews-fair-or-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-384 shokutsu Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:19:35 +0000 http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/?p=618#comment-384 Agreed, good topic and timely too with the fresh announcement of the event. Interesting to note the bump in prices this year too. Ideally, reviews of places I feel are best developed over a couple of visits (knowing the $ implications of trying to dine out at the same place several times), at different times over the year and even day. I suppose its just one way of trying to "average" out the experience, much like visiting a prospective new home to gauge the noise around the place, how traffic is on weekdays (to drive to work) versus weekends (to get out of town, etc.), what the neighborhood is like during the day versus at night to let you know what kind of people are walking the streets. More back to your question, I think if you were to do a post of a D.O.V meal, as long as you say it was during this event, then people can make their own extrapolations about it - as everyone has their own thoughts on eating at these places during this time (positive and negative), as you noted. Maybe you could follow up such a meal with a review during a more "regular" time to give that comparison touch. Agreed, good topic and timely too with the fresh announcement of the event. Interesting to note the bump in prices this year too. Ideally, reviews of places I feel are best developed over a couple of visits (knowing the $ implications of trying to dine out at the same place several times), at different times over the year and even day. I suppose its just one way of trying to “average” out the experience, much like visiting a prospective new home to gauge the noise around the place, how traffic is on weekdays (to drive to work) versus weekends (to get out of town, etc.), what the neighborhood is like during the day versus at night to let you know what kind of people are walking the streets.

More back to your question, I think if you were to do a post of a D.O.V meal, as long as you say it was during this event, then people can make their own extrapolations about it – as everyone has their own thoughts on eating at these places during this time (positive and negative), as you noted. Maybe you could follow up such a meal with a review during a more “regular” time to give that comparison touch.

]]> By: I Love Food Blog http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/2009/01/dine-out-vancouver-reviews-fair-or-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-383 I Love Food Blog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:43:24 +0000 http://imonlyhereforthefood.com/?p=618#comment-383 That is a very good question. I'm going to have to ponder about that before I reply. I was thinking the same thing too now that DineOut is right around the corner. That is a very good question. I’m going to have to ponder about that before I reply. I was thinking the same thing too now that DineOut is right around the corner.

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