I know many of you are Chowhounders.
As community-based as Chowhound is, and as seemingly monolithic and corporate as Zagat seems, many people forget that Zagat was one of first major restaurant guides to rely on the public for ratings. Now, don't get me wrong, I have many problems with the ratings system, which are echoed in this Food & Wine article by Mimi Sheraton.
Zagat however, could have reproduced the model of a hidden arbiter of taste, in which a group or a single person adds a review to the canon, like the Michelin Guide ("Famously Anonymous") or the New York Times model, where a critic would avoid her/his picture being published so to remain anonymous while dining and reviewing. Of course, this was well before you could become relatively famous all on the premise of writing about food, and make a killing off TV appearances and book deals. These shady characters (or celebrities now) tend to have extremely well-educated palates, sometimes to a fault, if that makes any sense.
On the other hand, at Chowhound we find an ever-expanding, dynamic, community-based discussion, available on any topic under the sun, including restaurants. The thing is, with both Zagat and Chowhound, we find the problem of validity - does anyone here actually know what they're talking about and did they really eat there or are they a disgruntled former employee or an eager owner? Most of the time the answer is yes (to all of the above), so although you have to be wary, nothing is better than first-hand advice that you can openly discuss, question and pick the best of.
Which is better? Most review and ratings systems have their own benefits and pitfalls, so it comes down to knowing what to look out for in each. None of them are indispensable on their own, but use them in combination with your own experience and discretion and you may find they become an indispensable tool for finding a good meal once in a while, especially if you're in a city that is new to you.
After clicking the link, pick your region. At the moment the options are limited to Canada (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver), Europe (all of it!) and 東京のレストラン (something Japanese... Tokyo?). Also, you'll need to create an account. It's quick - I did it, and I'm really lazy. Like really, really lazy.
RATE YOUR DINING EXPERIENCES HERE FOR THE ZAGAT GUIDE.
GET YOURSELF A CHOWHOUND ACCOUNT HERE & GET IN ON THE DISCUSSION.
