Are the stars out tonight?
New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni notes that, though flawed, the star system may be with us for a while.
(see: http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=20).
I say yes to stars as long as they are well-defined. Some baseline is necessary to *quickly* search amongst the good.
Meal decisions are often made by groups in trying circumstances and must be made quickly (else with 5 or more people anarchy ensues).
In these instances, having around a good baseline is essential. Stars or any benchmark should have some formal attribute, however. Does 1 star mean I will enjoy the food, but it is served on an inelegant counter by a ham-fisted waiter? Does it mean I will pay $120 for subpar food in a gorgeous setting?
Stars are a bit like those famously inept wall street stock ratings. What does it mean, as Citigroup CFO Sallie Krawcheck once observed, if a stock is rated overweight in an underweight sector?
