Did they just say that?

20 years ago, you went to a restaurant because you walked by, a friend recommended it, or you read about it in the New York Times. Now, people have pre-determined opinions about restaurants before they even walk in the door. Instead of being excited for an awesome meal, they're thinking back to all of the negative things they read and *hoping* that they made the right choice.

Add to this the fact that absoultely everyone is a published food critic these days as well as the inane policies put forth by review sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp, and you've got a recipe for disaster on your hands.

A word to the wise: if you have something nice to say, go ahead. If you have something negative, my first question will always be: did you tell your server? Did you talk to the manager? If not, you have absolutely no reason to write a negative review.

Another word to the wise: if you've never worked in a restaurant, don't pretend like you know how they work. You have NO idea the amount of time, energy, and money that goes into bringing you the perfectly crafted cocktail or the perfectly cooked plate. So stop pretending you do!