A D3 Restaurant Owner Deals With A Demanding Blogger In The Best Possible Way
It’s been well known since the dawn of web 2.0 over ten years ago that bloggers and social media users with large followings are invited to review restaurants just like traditional media would be.
Some, however, take this a bit far. In Dubai, there are many credible food blogs, and some influential foodie accounts on Instagram, there are even prolific Zomato reviewers.
The following story comes from Akiba Dori, the recently opened Japanese style restaurant in Dubai Design District. The owner doesn’t go as far as revealing the reviewer, but how they handled the request is spot on.
A). The request and initial response
Just got legit ‘threatened’ by a food blogger after this sequence of events:
1- Blogger reaches out asking for invite to review my new restaurant.
2- I say yes of course & that we have a set menu for bloggers + 1 friend at specific times.— Samer S. Hamadeh (@IAmMrBrightside) July 4, 2018
B). Not satisfied with the invitation, the blogger asks for more
3- Blogger replies saying no they want to invite 6 people for Friday night.
4- I explain we don’t do bookings so it would be bad for business to keep a table of 6 aside on a busy weekend night. Also invite is for 2.— Samer S. Hamadeh (@IAmMrBrightside) July 4, 2018
C). The blogger makes a threat and the reply is gold
5- Blogger replies saying that they never get limited by any restaurant in the world and that they can pretty much make sure no one from the blogger community visits my restaurant EVER with one review so I need to decide.
6- I reply saying I look forward to reading it.— Samer S. Hamadeh (@IAmMrBrightside) July 4, 2018
Many are asking for the blogger to be revealed
Oooh please name and shame should this blog post ever come out!
— Robert Nammour (@Followthehippo) July 4, 2018
Internet fame has hit their head..post your conversation with them in case they post a negative review…
— Prasad (@beingnetworker) July 5, 2018
Do it – name them!
— Adib Samara (@AdibSamara) July 4, 2018
REVEAAAALL THE BLOGGER
— Basel Anabtawi (Basel Meets) (@BaselAnabtawi) July 4, 2018
