Should hospitality staff review restaurants online, or share their feedback in person? Your reactions

The Staff Canteen

Editor

Last week, we asked how you, hospitality staff, address a bad restaurant experience - pondering whether turning to TripAdvisor or Google reviews is your go-to, or if you choose to face the problem head on.

We were surprised to see that your feedback varied quite broadly: 4.2 percent of Twitter respondents - and 11 percent on Facebook - said they would leave an online review, against 79 percent on Instagram.

Tim Allen - a chef who has reason to dislike user-generated content, as his restaurant, The Flitch of Bacon, received negative online reviews when it was closed due to floods - said that while honesty is the best approach, hospitality professionals should look out for each other.

Fervent TripAdvisor critic Paul Foster agreed. He said that he was baffled as to why industry professionals would do such a thing, as he would never do so himself.

Meanwhile, Facebook user Jordan Jones said he adopts a 'honesty is the best policy' approach, first confronting a situation in person, then online if he sees the issue is serious enough.

Ryan Walker said he takes a more tempered tone still, arguing that issues are more than likely a matter of preference rather than a flaw on the restaurant's part.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever received a bad review from a fellow hospitality professional? How do you address a bad restaurant experience, if at all? Leave your replies in the comments!

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