Are Those Real People Or Sock Puppets Raving On Yelp About A New Brooklyn Heights Eatery?

By on October 19, 2013 9:44 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Food

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a crack down on businesses hiring firms to provide fake rave Yelp reviews recently, fining some as much at $100,000. The practice is called “astroturfing” and black hat marketing firms offer the service of “sock puppet” reviewers to restaurants to boost their overall Yelp ratings.

As any casual user of the service knows, there always seem to be 5 star reviews for establishments of questionable quality. The Guardian has a great piece on how to spot fakes. Hyperbole, naturally, is one factor. We’ve added another – a cluster of reviewers claiming to be from another state. How about several reviews from another state?

Take the case of recent posts regarding Montague Street’s Taperia, which just opened this month. Three reviewers claiming to be from Florida have raved about the place. One account was created in the last two weeks.

RELATED: KARL JUNKERSFELD HAS FUN AT TAPERIA [VIDEO]

Sure, it’s totally plausible that these folks are real and truly love Taperia and that the owners of the establishment have no involvement whatsoever with their online activity. As a matter of fact, it would be great for the neighborhood if those reviewers were really that jazzed about the place.

You decide if this one from “Michelle V.” feels legit:

A wonderful place for tapas in the city. The new Chef Hector Diaz did an amazing job with the new look and menu. Gotta say its worth a night out, every night! Yummy!

Or how about “Esteban O.”, another Floridian:

Driving thru and needed a “tapas fix”. The scallops and foie gras were EXCELLENT! The roasted figs were perfectly done. We washed it down with Cornessa 2008 and Rias Baixas. Looking forward to my next time here at ‘Taperia”. This chef really knows what he’s doing!

Reviewer “Undercover A” seems legit to us, mostly because their other neighborhood reviews ring true:

Meatballs are good, filled with manchego cheese, maybe a bit chewy. Chorizo is OK too. Solid wine selection ($8/9 by the glass). Flights at the bar would be a great idea. Very friendly environment and plenty of energy. Shout out to Cassie … We need this place desperately in the Heights! Welcome!

Then there’s “Matthew P.” who we not only know in real life, but is an occasional contributor to BHB:

Atrociously bad food. Imagine if a diner served tapas and you’d have a good idea of the quality and flavor. Nothing was good. Nothing. Not a single thing. Really. I kid you not.

Worst sangria I’ve ever had and ever will have. You know you’re in trouble when it comes out in a pint glass. With each sip I marveled how it not only tasted nothing resembling sangria, but was so plain.

Oh, and the prices are quite high for such small plates. Montague Street’s curse of bad restaurants continues. We must have been very bad in a past life.

Don’t say you weren’t warned. And it also appears some of these 5 star ratings from first-time reviewers are bogus.

Also, Yelp has filtered at least 3 reviews of the eatery so far.

Recently, a Harvard Business School study claims that 20% of Yelp reviews are fake.

While it’s unclear who is behind the hyperbolic raves for this and many other restaurants on Yelp, this story wouldn’t be complete without shedding light on what restaurateurs think about the service who solicit ad dollars from them. In a word – extortion. Yelp, of course, denies this.

WFSB 3 Connecticut

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  • Karl Junkersfeld

    David,

    The bad reviews were based on one or two selections off the menu during a one time visit. It is entirely possible that many of the other selections on the menu were fine. I can think of tons restaurants that drop dishes that aren’t working. It happens all the time. Obviously, if the negative reviewer tried a large selection of dishes and they all were terrible then it is lights out. That is not the case here. I have talked to 3 other residents of the Heights who have eaten at Taparia and all liked the food. Two of the 3 had the sangria and liked it but thought it was too expensive for the size of the glass. (filled with ice may I add) In conclusion, the jury is still out. Give them some time and let’s hope for the best.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    AEB,

    Love your prose. (sepulchral) You and nabeguy (miss him) are magicians were the written word. I agree, changing cooks is generally not a good thing. It is amazing how consistent Henry’s End has been over the years. My guess is that is a tribute to Mark.

  • Heightsman

    Thanks Marathoner….you’ve commented on this board….ONCE. Today

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    Let’s not forget Old Mexico, sadly replaced by Subway. The food was good if not spectacular, but Leonard’s guitar always made it a treat.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    Square Circle? That must have been before my time here, which started in 1983. I arrived just in time to see the demise of Su-Su’s, which I regret never having tried.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    I really miss Leaf and Bean and Mr. Souvlaki, though I do like Hanco’s which I think now occupies Mr. Souvlaki’s old spot. Cafe Buon Gusto, though, is a miserable replacement for Capulet’s.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    As far as small potions are concerned, I have yet to experience one authentic Tapas bar in NYC. In Spain where the real Tapas is, the plates are small and inexpensive or, price proportionate. Here the con-cept is serve less food and charge as much or even more for a portion than the place next door… Because it’s “Tapas” and most people don’t even know what it really is. If I dropped $80 bucks on a meal in a mid-range restaurant and then had to go to 5 Guys for fries, I’d be pretty pissed.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    Square Circle was on montague roughly where LPQ is now. Although, it was a record & CD store not a restaurant. It closed about 1990

  • David on Middagh

    Karl, I didn’t mean to impugn the food (which I have not tried) but to extend the conversation to other restaurants. Your points are well taken!

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    OK, now I remember. I did in fact shop there a few times. I was confused by its inclusion in a list of eateries..

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    Love the hyphen in “con-cept.”

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    In what decade are you applauding Old Mexico? As I remember it was great in the 70’s & 80’s then began to decline sometime in the 90’s till it became an obscure dump.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    I probably ate there more in the ’80s when I was single, though I did occasionally eat there in the ’90s. I didn’t notice any appreciable change.

  • suzanne goss

    I know what works in BH after 40+ years, and

  • Andrew Porter

    I like their new drive-through window, and the wait persons on roller blades! Very Brooklyn Heightsy!

  • Andrew Porter

    Pica-Deli! Loved those sour pickles in the little metal serving dishes on every table.

  • Heightsman

    Only time will tell…..we shall see.

  • susan

    I hope their scam backfires and closes this place down immediately. This isn’t the Meatpacking District, and if there’s one thing we don’t need it’s a bunch of people coming here to our historic neighborhood to screech at each other while gobbling overpriced Spanish snacks!

  • MonroeOrange

    yes, sorry, just thought i would mention all the stores i missed on montague..not food related though:)

  • suzanne goss

    bravo!

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