238 Comments
Apr 23, 2023Liked by Meg Zimbeck

I understand the hesitation, but when I'm traveling, I think a "don't like" or "avoid" or similar is worth a great deal. Places fill, reservations are unobtainable, plans change, and I it is quite valuable to avoid a terrible experience, or even a mediocre one if the data is easy to see. Example: we were wandering the cemetery when the rains came, and ran for a cafe. There were 4 or 5 within a block. We got lucky - good coffee, frites, a salad & cheese plate. Nothing to write home about (forgot the name), but it worked. If it had been terrible and a better option of the 5 was nearby - that would have been a shame. From a practical perspective, there's not (necessarily) a need to slam a chef or an establishment, just a warning to choose something else can be a huge help.

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I am firmly in the camp of wanting to know the excellent, good, mediocre and poor reviews. How else can we reward the owner who’s doing a better job than his peers, but hasn’t attained the excellent status? This would be especially helpful when walking in a neighborhood and knowing which restaurant is worth visiting.

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Only by telling the plain truth do our words carry worth. When we are consistently honest and don't whitewash anything, then "this is beautiful" really means something! Thank you for your PBM work, and I look forward to joining my beautiful travel partner for some fabulous Parisian foodie experiences soon!

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YES! A list by arrondissement, with reviews of the good ones and just "like it" or "don't bother" about the others, would be wonderful. Thanks for asking.

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Just discovered PBM in research for first time trip to Paris in September. Very excited to discover your newsletter, and hope to enjoy all that Paris food has to offer. I would find a list by arrondissement very helpful. Look forward to being overwhelmed with food information

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Just discovered PBM in research for first time trip to Paris in September. Very excited to discover your newsletter, and hope to enjoy all that Paris food has to offer. I would find a list by arrondissement very helpful. Look forward to being overwhelmed with food information

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Mar 23, 2023Liked by Meg Zimbeck

I'm a little late to this party, Meg, but I follow you on Insta and offered a comment there on how much people appreciate (and perversely love) negative reviews -- if they are factual and not ax-grinding. (A little humor also helps.)

I've been reviewing restaurants in Las Vegas for 28 years and am at the stage where nothing irks me more than wasting time and calories on a mediocre (or worse) experience....especially when better options abound. And Paris is the pinnacle of restaurant options.

Like some of your commenters have noted: visitors only have a few days (and precious few meals) and don't want to waste any of them. The relentless boosterism of "influencers" and other on-line advertising drivel tells a tourist next to nothing (besides wowing them with pretty pictures), and the informed traveler is hungry (pun intended) for useful information and opinion. Your website fills this gap in a highly readable format, for the discriminating eater -- not someone who uses crowd-sourcing to plan their meals and spend their hard-earned $$$.

Even though our markets (and readers) are vastly different on the sophistication scale, I will share one piece of advice the great Alan Richman gave me years ago: Never punch down; always wrap your opinions in facts. In my world, the big casino hotels and their celeb chef restaurants are fair game. So much money and publicity is behind them they deserve to be pilloried if they don't measure up. Ditto some over-hyped gastropubs who cook solely for Instagram clicks. Or the "restaurant du jour" every influencer has been raving about (usually in exchange for a free meal). Smaller mom & pops I love to trumpet when they hit their marks, but I leave them alone when they don't. (What the Paris equivalents of these places are, I don't know, but I'm sure Paris is full of corner bistros slinging food straight off a supplier's truck, and name chefs "phoning it in" once they've hit it big with gastro-tourists.)

Regardless, a little negativity is good for the soul, and gives you enormous credibility with your readers. I got into my gig back in the Stone Age, but I did it first and foremost as a consumer advocate. I highly suspect your motivations are the same. Keep up the good work and a votre sante!

John Curtas

EATING LAS VEGAS - The 52 Essential Restaurants

P.S. I'll be in your fair city next week for a fortnight. Looking forward to a mix of Michelin stars and wine bars.. Le Comptoir du Relais was fabulous when I was there 4 years ago, as was Paul Bert, but I hear what you're saying and feel your pain. Cheers!

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Desperately seeking delicious plate of food ,at reasonable price , elusive in Paris !

Enough of Tasting Menus ...

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A list by arrondisement, as nearly everyone has commented, would be extremely helpful. And I think a ranking that includes Avoid makes such a list more valuable.

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Is Rigamarol reopened as a restaurant rather than a pizza parlor? We have never seen a review of Le Duc. Have you ever reviewed it? Arranging by arrondisement is so needed. I check with Paris by Mouth before i reserve in Paris. Love it.

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If you come across an especially poorly prepared dish at a restaurant,I think it only fair to alert your subscribers to the problem. The New York Times restaurant reviews always mention the best dishes and those that you might want to skip. It may encourage the restaurant to do better.

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Perhaps a list of all the establishments visited with “reviewed” attached to those which made the grade would be helpful. Arrondisemlent is very helpful.

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I'm with the majority of others; I would really appreciate a list of 'do not recommend' by Arrondissement!

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Everything is so expensive these days that a subpar experience is painful. I think you should out the 'meh' and worse. I'd also add that as a business owner it's better to know so you can pivot, than wonder why patrons aren't returning.

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Yes, please a separation by arrondissement. And a Big yes for giving a word on where isn’t great. We only have 12 days this trip to Paris, staying in the 6th mostly, to Loire for a day, mostly in Paris, though we will never again drop 500€ on a measly meal for two…been damaged by sticks and stuffed radishes and awful wine selections once too often… We will be there 12/4-24/4 looking forward to your Spring update!

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Restaurants visited by arrondissement with "love it, like it, or don’t recommend" would be great!

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