Reader: Review of Red Robin, a hamburger chain, is not okay

Jenn Wohletz is on the chain gang -- and last week reviewed Red Robin's Burger Works, a homegrown concept from the Greenwood Village-based chain that debuted at the Shops at Northfield Stapleton last November. But not everyone enjoyed the culinary history lesson...

By Patricia Calhoun

July 5, 2012

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Jenn Wohletz is on the chain gang -- and last week reviewed Red Robin's Burger Works, a homegrown concept from the Greenwood Village-based chain that debuted at the Shops at Northfield Stapleton last November.

But not everyone enjoyed the culinary history lesson.

Says Natasha:

Okay, I understand that Laura Shunk has left the state, and I can see how it might be hard to fill the gap while you're still looking for a replacement...but to have a staff member review RED ROBIN, a hamburger chain? Not OK. Reprint reviews that readers have loved...print a list of restaurants that are new and look appealing...hell, have readers provide a writing sample and send them on a mission to review a restaurant - but don't insult your audience by asking them to engage in a review like this one. I'm an English teacher, love food, and have the summer off - where would you like to send me?

Thanks, but no thanks, Natasha. Not only does restaurant reviewing require a real skill set to make sure that restaurants are reviewed fairly, but it's also important to have one consistent reviewing voice -- so that readers can determine whether or not they share with that reviewer's taste, and assess the reviews accordingly. One-time reviews aren't fair to either the restaurants or the readers.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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