Not sure if you have read this ‘catty’ review in the Gargoyle Leader on March 19, but it seems someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed before going to eat, here’s some highlights of the review(?);
The small portions are just right for my appetite, but may be met with disdain by those who favor larger servings, especially considering the cost.
Because golly, who cares about taste and quality these days, I don’t care if it tastes like an old shoe, as long as I can get stuffed on $4.99.
The new décor features orange graphics reminiscent of the 1960s. I wasn’t a big fan then, not a fan now,
And who cares what what a skinny old washed up reporter thinks about interior design? It’s called using complimentary colors and has nothing to do with the 60’s.
Oversized flower arrangements punctuated the space, which offer an organic but slightly jarring feel. Orange poppies blend nicely with brown autumn foliage, but poppies bloom in spring.
Actually plastic flowers bloom all year.
I have avoided writing about the review, because I guess I have never taken the Gargoyle Leader’s restaurant reviews very seriously, ever since Jana ‘Cupcakes’ Farley gave four stars to the Pizza Ranch in Tea, or complained she wasn’t getting waited on at a deli counter. But it seems there has been quite a bit of buzz on the internet about the review, and how truly pathetic it was. The Secret Fork is a blog that has been around for about a year reviewing restaurants, and they rip the review apart, here is some highlights;
Some of you may recall my previous post about the deplorable job the AL and reporter Dorene Weinstein did with a review of Sai Gon Panda.  I swear, they need to start getting it right, or get out of the business of doing this altogether.  ”
Ms. Weinstein stuck a three-pronged fork right in the eye of 26 Grille with her review:
- The service was a bit lacking
- The food was “off”
- The decor sucks
Regardless how experienced individual staff members might be, it takes a while to knock the kinks out of a new place. Â Cut them some slack, you idiots.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go see how many references I can find to things that are “piping hot”, “yummy”, or “gooey” in a few dozen copies of Food & Wine or Gourmet. Â “Piping hot.” Â For Pete’s sake.
Have a good weekend. Â Fork the Argus Leader.
I write to share my disgust with the food critique in the Link insert.
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Specifically, I found the Thursday, March 19, article disheartening. I am immediately puzzled with the fact the Argus Leader reviews restaurants above all other business types. You do not publish a plumbing review or a grocery store review. Restaurants are, apparently, a point of fascination to your writing team.
I wish they would – there is a lot of robbers out there, especially some of the arborists involved with the blanket code enforcement and Project TRIM.
could be helpful if it gave the reader a factual description of the business. The reader could then decide for him or herself if the product type, if the price and if the ambiance is the sort that he or she enjoys.
Exactly! That is the point of a review. Tell us the size of the portion and the price, then we will decide if that is too expensive or not.
Why would the Argus Leader opt to publish negative stories about locally owned and managed businesses?
They do it everyday while sucking up to the franchises and big box stores. I have often said about Sioux Falls, “Over 400 restaurants and no place to eat.” Locally owned ones are usually the best ones for quality, and ambiance. Sometimes the service is a little off, but I have never had a bad meal at a locally owned restaurant.
Why not highlight small local business regardless of type and regardless of the product they sell? Why not amend your restaurant review and instead have a local business highlights section? Tell us about the local business men and women that work tirelessly to infuse our community with jobs and keep their door open despite the economy. I understand to write for a “reaction” generates sales. You have, however, lost future sales at my house.
And they wonder why subscriptions are in the toilet . . .
l3wis 
