The ReviewerCard Launches, The World Recoils In Horror

By Besha Rodell Tue., Jan. 22 2013 at 10:04 AM

The ReviewerCard

A story in the L.A. Times yesterday profiled Brad Newman, a guy who writes a lot of online reviews and decided to figure out how to leverage that fact. He's invented The Reviewer Card, a $100 piece of plastic that you show to restaurant and hotel personnel to let them know you write online reviews, in the hopes your service will improve. From the universally disgusted reaction, it seems as though you might be more likely to receive spit in your dinner.

Eater wrote about the card, with the headline "ReviewerCard Takes Extorting Restaurants to a New Level." On Twitter, food writers and chefs had their say:

Even the L.A. Times, in the original article, was much more opinionated about the card than is usual in a business story, coming right out in the headline and saying "Seeking preferential treatment with the flash of a card is wrong." But perhaps Jay Rayner, food critic from The Guardian in the UK, said it best:

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Erins_Voice moderator communitymanager

I think this is the exact opposite of what people who use review sites to get recommendations and business owners want. It taints reviews' authenticity. And it's just gross.

Eric Torres

yeah, but Hots will hook you up with that delicious foie yo.

Sara Miller

Heads up! Check out this review online of a sketchy dump in Hermosa called “Hot’s Kitchen” “Really and Truly---**WORST** Restaurant experience--*Ever*…” “....And that is saying a lot. I used to work in restaurants so I know of what I speak. You know now as a patron when they cut corners, when their staff is untrained and if they're following health regulations. On more than one occasion friends & family of ours have tried this place. Each and every time an EPIC disappointment. Epic. From the servers being rude and us witnessing them not washing their hands (yuck!)—to the food being thoroughly tasteless and disgusting—there are no words to describe how inexcusable this miserable, filthy place is. On top of everything else some of their servers are on an STD site (double yuck!)—IN any case—this place disappoints on *every level*; from bad food to terrible service to foul health violations. Don’t even consider ruining your night—you deserve better. We all do.”