How much does "bad press" about restaurants affect you?

i don't take any notice at all of critics, being food,movies or music, they can only give opinions based on their own taste, and fortunatly, not every body has got the same taste, and some of them have got bad taste, i base opinions on what i like, i have even eaten at places some people don't like, saw movies others don't like, all because i thought it may be good, the same with restaurants that get bad publicity, one here called sizzler, some disgruntled person put rat poison in the salad bar, made a few people violently sick, she got caught, and the company had to spend a fortune on extra security, but people still flock to the place, and there was the cake factory that had razor blades put in to cakes by an employee, i still buy from that manufacturer, because i happen to like their cakes, so i think get rid of critics, they are only counter productive any way, and go with your own instincts

I usually eat in restaurants that I have already visited or my friends have recommended at some point in time.That way,I am comfortable even if someone else didn't like it coz from personal experience I would know how good or bad it is.I think I've never been the sort to try out a restaurant that is very new unless I am vacationing or touring a place.Unless it's something as serious as food poisoning ,I don't fret over bad press about a restaurant I love.However,I don't like being kept waiting for my order for too long.

I am more skeptical than ever about eating out. You hear more and more stories about unsanitary restaurants. I don't know if this is true, but they say you can figure out how clean a restaurant is by how clean they keep their restrooms. I think I heard that on television. I know that I always look behind the counter if I get a chance and see how dirty their floors are. Lloyd

"Bad press" generally only makes a differece for me when it underscores something I already believed to be true. For example, let's say I at some "greasy spoon" joint, and it struck me as dirty and not exactly appealing. Then there's an article in the paper saying that they were temporarily closed for failing a health department inspection. I MIGHT have gone back before the article, but after the article I almost definitely wouldn't. On the other hand, if a place I really like gets a bad review, I either presume they "had a bad day" or the person who wrote about them "had a bad day."

Gah, if I paid attention to every bit of bad press about restaurants, I'd never eat out lol. I much prefer to try places for myself. Here where I live, there is a Fish and Chips restaurant where they make fish and chips just like I'm used to back in the UK. This place has received bad press because they're only open till 9pm and they close the kitchen at 8.30pm. If I'd taken notice of that bit of bad press, I wouldn't have discovered the best fish and chips place in town. I tend to not even take notice of any bad press any more. Different people look for different things in restaurants, and not everyone is going to be satisfied at all times.

I eat out quite a bit and usually bad press doesn't stop me from going to a particular restaurant. If they have good food / service then I'll eat there. There are of course some signs you can look for to evaluate a restaurant. If there are very few cars in the parking lot during peak lunch / dinner hours I usually stay away. I also look for fabric table cloths instead of vinyl and fresh flowers on the table. Finally look for older ladies having lunch - they usually flock to the good restaurants. Plus if you sit next to them you don't have to worry about being cold.

I have worked in enough restaurants to know that some of the things you hear may actually be true. Without being able to verify the validity of these claims, I would not be inclined to stay away from any restaurant, no matter what the claim. I am not saying that it would not be in the back of my mind, but until I saw something with my own eyes, I would not really believe it. I hope this is helpful. Anybody else have a comment?

I know what you mean but seriously it does effect me some what but I guess it depends exactly what it is. When I heard about the finger in the chili at Wendy's that has made me really fearful of eating their chili even though it wasn't them and was a total set up. Sometimes it is just mind over matter.

After seeing the story about the KFC, or was it Taco Bell...on tv with all the rats running around, I am glad that we don't eat fast fod that often. I used to hang out with a chef of a pretty fancy restaurant here. The things I saw them do in the kitchen would make my hair curl, but then they cooked the food really well and made up for it. Since then I always look at what is on my plate carefully and have no qualms at sending something back that I find unacceptable. It is more difficult to do that with fast food, if not impossible.

I don't go out to eat as much as I used to. But it isn't so much because of the stories. Then again, hearing about and seeing rats running around in a restaurant is a little discomforting. I have never had any problems with eating out or the food. So, I will probably still go out to eat every so often.

I've heard some really bad things about some palces too. I think that if I let every story that I've heard have a big effect on my decision I'd never be eating anywhere. I try to just not let some of these things really get to me.

I look at the ratings on the restaurant. If the rating is A I think it is "absolutely" safe to eat there. If the rating is B then I think they have a "bug" problem, either roaches, maggots or flies. If the rating is C that means "c-ya" later because you have rats and unsanitary preparation of food. I think the rating does affect business but I dont think everyone thinks the way I do.

One rule that I alway follow that is do not go near the kitchen of the restaurant. If you did not see what happen in the kitchen or what state of cleanliness in the kitchen, then you will not think about it when you eat. It is mind over body.

I think you have to eat at the place at least once or twice. Experience is the best teacher. But if I personally find something disgusting, then i'll have an aversion to that restaurant for the rest of my life. i'll tell other people what i think about the restaurant.

Even though there has been a lot of bad press about Taco Bell, I still love it...The thought of rats crawling around where my food is made is a little creepy, but it doesn't bother me enough to stop eating there. If people started getting sick from a restaurant, then yea, I'd stop eating there. For the most part, I haven't heard of anyone getting sick around here. But if I found something creepy in my food, then yea...I wouldn't go there anymore x]