Review Policies
Restaurants
If money and time were no object, I'd visit each new restaurant three or more times prior to reviewing them here on māʻona. More often, reviews are based on just a single visit (who knows when I'll ever make it back again) because I think I've found something worth sharing. Reviews based on a single visit will be identified so that you can take them with a large boulder of salt.
Books
As the visibility of this site has grown, publishers have from time to time sent me books in the hopes that I'll review them. Many bloggers see this as a conflict of interest and an obligation to write. I'm under no such compunction. If the book is good, I may say a few words. If it's not, I doubt I'll make the time. There are enough out there worth reading to waste time documenting the ones that aren't. Unless of course the book truly sucks, in which case I may take out my wrath on the author, the publisher, on the trees that became its pages and the mail carrier for bringing it to darken my door.
There are many more books that I'm hoping to review simply because I love them. I've bought these books with my own money, read them, studied them and used them as research. Food is an experience, but books help us understand, interpret and appreciate it through new eyes.
Negative reviews
Rarely will I write a negative review of a restaurant, especially based on a single visit. If my disdain is misguided, then it'd be unfair of me to be too harsh. If others share my dislike, then the subjects will slowly wither even without my critique. My focus instead is on places you really should experience; food to celebrate and savor.
I will however share flaws in a restaurant as I see them. Every place has their weaknesses and maybe my own experiences can help you avoid specific problems at an otherwise worthy restaurant.
Life is too short to waste your time and mine on sub-par restaurants when there are so many excellent examples to discover.
Full Disclosure
I promise to be completely upfront with you about any possible conflicts of interest. If I have personal connections to a restaurants, I'll say so. If a book has been sent to me for review, I'll make sure that's clear. In truth, I think I'm harsher in those cases because I'm so conscious not to play favorites. You be the judge.
Fellow bloggers
The focus of māʻona is food in Hawaiʻi, and I have no problems giving link love to other bloggers in and from these islands. Although we've never met, we share a common bond. There are many, many other excellent food writers out there whom I'm tempted to link, but I keep coming back to the core focus: food here in Hawaiʻi. I hope you come to love it as much as I do.
Alan,
I too have received offers for books, the latest being the one by Morimoto. While tempting, I have resisted the urge to accept any books for promotion/review just for the sake of getting something for free and/or advertising someone's product for them at no charge (The United States of Arugula).
The topic of "reviewing" restaurants is something else all together, and is probably the reason why I don't feel like writing any longer. I no longer find dining out "satisfying".
Alan,
I think your approach on reviews is very humble and noble. I, on the other hand, like to take on a completely different approach by being completely honest about all my dinning experiences. I know I can be a little harsh at times and I would hope that everyone understands that every experience is different. This is the way I enjoy talking about food and if I did it any different I would be compromising a little bit of myself and eventually fail to love this little hobby that I took on.
Reid, yes I think the issue of review copies of books is something that everyone needs to wrestle with for themselves. I completely understand and appreciate your stance.
As for reviewing restaurants... sometimes I just don't feel like it. Maybe I've got a backlog already, or I'm tired, or I just want to eat without taking notes. So far, that feeling has passed eventually :)
Doodoolicious, after reading your comment I've gone back and tried to clarify my thoughts above. I will say bad things about a restaurants when I see them. I just won't bother reviewing a restaurant unless the good marginally outweighs the bad. There has to be a reason why I think you should want to visit, despite any flaws.
I'm also grateful for the people who are willing to mercilessly rip into bad food and caution me to stay clear. That's an important role, it's just not my role.