General Question for local Bar Managers

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by TravisMBinns, Oct 20, 2013.

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  1. TravisMBinns

    TravisMBinns Initiate (0) Apr 30, 2011 Illinois

    Do you put much into reading online reviews that people take time out of their day to write? I've heard about the restaurant I manage that I don't offer enough variety with my 12 tap handles. The best I heard about my place is that you "can't find many craft beers on tap, it's mainly just offerings from the big three."
    (current beer menus page: http://www.beermenus.com/places/3748-the-happ-inn)
    And no, it's never been anywhere near only offering the "big three."
    I just read a review about Map Room that said "the beer selection is small" and it's "not bad and I'd come back but not if I am looking for an extensive beer selection." Really?!?! Are we talking about the same Map Room?!?!?!?!!?!
    Reading reviews like this really just fire me up, so I was wondering if other restaurant managers get as upset about it as I do?
     
    #1 TravisMBinns, Oct 20, 2013
  2. MarcatGSB

    MarcatGSB Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Michigan

    I own a restaurant, with a bar, inside a hotel. So I have three avenues to get raked over the coals. I read them...Take any valuable information from them and move on. You can't please everyone man. If you feel like your business is running well, keep working hard and trying to please your customers.
     
    #2 MarcatGSB, Oct 20, 2013
    atone315 and JohnB87 like this.
  3. TravisMBinns

    TravisMBinns Initiate (0) Apr 30, 2011 Illinois

    I get that, and I really value the feedback, both positive and negative. I emailed the person that wrote that you can't find many craft beers, in the nicest way possible, to ask for his suggestions on what he would like to see, but he never responded back to me.
    I guess it's more frustration with the ability for everyone to be an online critic, even if their opinion is completely baseless; and that someone out in the real world may actually take a review at face value and not give a place an opportunity. I'm also fully aware that most people don't base their opinion on one single online review in the information age, however.
    Just frustrating!
     
    #3 TravisMBinns, Oct 21, 2013
  4. Brenden

    Brenden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,436) Feb 25, 2008 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I appreciate this predicament. Everyone should be entitled to their own opinion, and I get that, but I'm not in the camp that says it's correct because it's an opinion. Some people believe things that can't be proved or disproved. Some people choose to believe a place like the Map Room has a small selection, and they should probably be medicated.
     
    #4 Brenden, Oct 21, 2013
  5. Vav

    Vav Savant (1,049) Jul 27, 2008 Illinois

    Read them, be humble and honest, and dont feed the trolls. But always, always read them. Sometimes you need to hear the feedback to grow and improve.

    You'll know good feedback when you see it, and you'll know when to ignore the stuff you should ignore. I've been dinged on a review because i didnt have enough Three Floyds or Rare beers in stock...
     
    #5 Vav, Oct 21, 2013
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