Transparency

How I Review

I have eaten at and reviewed more than 300 restaurants across Upstate New York. Here is exactly how a place ends up in this guide, and what my verdicts actually mean.

I Pay for My Food

Almost every meal on this site came out of my own pocket. If a meal was comped or hosted, I say so right on the spot's page.

No Paid Placements

Nobody can buy a rank, a badge or a spot in the guide. Any member perk will be negotiated after I already liked the place, never before.

I Name the Downsides

Every write up has a heads up section when it needs one. A place I love can still have a weak dish, a long wait or a rough room.

One Visit Is a First Impression

Anything that lands on a ranked list gets more than one visit, and I order the same dish everywhere so the comparison is honest.

No Aggregate Star Ratings

The public guide uses plain English verdicts. It includes the good, the mixed and the places I would skip.

My Verdicts

Must TryPlan your week around it. This is why the guide exists.

GreatA confident recommendation any night of the week.

SolidGood food with a caveat or two that I will spell out.

Just OKIt does the job. Go if it is convenient, not if it is a drive.

SkipI will tell you why, and where to go instead.

Think I Got One Wrong?

Tell me. I go back to places, and my verdict changes when the food does.

Browse the Guide