You’re banned …

Ever since restaurant reviews became a thing, diners have had the upper hand. 

Waiting too long for a drink?

Seated at the wobbly table next to the loo?

Keyboard warriors know how to get their own back.

That’s with a 1-star rating, along with a pithy comment or two about all the other perceived failings to put the restaurant in its place.

But one man has decided to fight back.

Chris D’Sylva, owner of the Michelin-starred Dorian in Notting Hill, has grown so tired of uppity customers that he’s started to review them.

Diners’ behaviour is discretely recorded and if there’s any hint of entitled behaviour, they’re asked to leave.

Sometimes before they’ve even eaten.

It helps that Dorian is a busy restaurant and much in demand by celebs eating out in the capital.

It also helps that D’Sylva is a plain-speaking, no-nonsense Australian who refers to some of the worst offenders as “Social Scumbags” and isn’t afraid of speaking his mind.

There will undoubtedly be gasps of horror from many, as did I, when I read the story but interesting and amusing as is, it shows us how critical reviews are for our business.

In fact, a steady flow of good reviews on your Google Business Listing is a brilliant, no-cost way of boosting your website’s rankings.

But how many do you need?

10 top reviews for every year you’ve been in business isn’t a bad place to aim for.

Food for thought, perhaps?

Until next week!

Alec