Luncheon Vulture's Forum Posts

Someone called “London Gourmet” has posted 87 reviews within the space of the last 4 days…whilst I appreciate that we don't always get time to post immediately after dining and there is sometimes a case to post a few at the same time, this is somewhat of an overkill, isn't it? Be interesting to see how many of these hit up as “Editor's Picks” or win any of the reviewer prizes… More

I was recently invited to a private party at Bentley's and we had a fab evening. Staff were absolutely brilliant and nothing was too much trouble even when we stayed long after the last diner had vacated the main restaurant! Our party was about 12 and whilst we had a truncated menu, it catered for both fish and meat lovers with all plates returned empty. I'm not a huge fan of the restaurant itself as whilst the food is great, the atmosphere is a bit muted, but would certainly not turn down an invite to a private gathering there should it ever be offered again. More

Thanks Nicky, but I have to say it is a bit lame for the reviews to appear on the website, but mention of any prize giving is only made on the website “when space allows”. I'm a bit of a pedant and have no desire to join in the Twitter craze so I guess the announcements of the plaudits will have to remain a mystery to me. Not that it particularly matters any more – I've decided to take Arabella's advice and now seek out restaurant blogs and sites that are better balanced than some of the reviews and reviewers now finding their way onto Square Meal. Another practice I've noticed is the first time reveiwer who starts with “having had many wonderful meals in this establishment, I just have to tell the world about the awful meal I had there last night” – perhaps if you had told the world about the fab meals, the restaurant may have been more successful with the increase in bookings that may have resulted from your good review… More

I've used Square Meal for more years than I care to remember and thought the addition of the facility for bill-paying members of the public to contribute their own reviews was a great idea. However, can anyone explain the increase in the practice of submitting huge amounts of reviews all in one hit? Someone has recently submitted over 20 reviews in the space of two days! I bet even professional critics aren't subjected to that many meals in such a short time period. What did they do, make copious notes and write them up when they can be bothered? What's the point of that? I often consult the public reviews to see how a restaurant is developing over a period of time – hard to do that when you now cannot take the submitted date as being legitimate. Also, has anyone ever won any of the reviewer prizes that SM advertises? I cannot recall seeing mention of the winners on a regular basis… More

Was just about to book a girlie “evening meal” and stumbled across a seemingly inviting special offer at Brasserie Blanc in the City – dinner two courses £16.00, three courses £18.45, even included an upgrade to a glass of Perrier for £2.75 – bargain! Not bad I thought in these days of austerity. Being the pedant that I am, on reading the not-so-small print I discover that this offer is available every day until 5.30pm ONLY. Even as a child I don't recall ever having an evening meal that early. Bearing in mind this restaurant is located in the City where most of us would be sacked for leaving our desks anything before 5pm, what's this all about? Has something been lost in translation? Is this timed to enable us to eat and get home in time for Monsieur Blanc's new tv series peut-etre? More