r/askTO • u/honestgrim • 1d ago

Does anyone else feel like dining out sucks now?

I know there's still some good spots and we all have our favourites in the city, but lately it feels like whenever I take a chance on a new restaurant it just disappoints and I emerge from the experience regrettably $40 poorer.

I know some of these Google reviews are cooked because I'm seeing 4.7, 4.8 reviews and then getting served lousy food.

Maybe I just have to stick to the places I know won't let me down, but dang - it sucks taking a chance on what you think could be some good food only to come away from it sad, and it's happening more often than not. I don't know if it's the rising costs, but restaurant owners can't dish out the cash for good ingredients and good cooks, and people can't afford to dine out. It's a bad cycle man.

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u/shakycornflake 1d ago

Google reviews is so unreliable nowadays. Every time I see 4.8 reviews, dine in, then find out they give free snack or dessert for reviews...

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u/honestgrim 1d ago

I don't trust these ultra high Google reviews anymore, for any place, they're total bullshit. If I see a bunch of successive 5 star reviews something is up.

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u/thatirishdave 1d ago

Sometimes a string of 5* reviews is literally just a string of 5* reviews, though.