Blogger Sued By Restaurant For Bad Review

Voulnet writes "A recently opened Benihana branch in Kuwait sued 248am.com, a well known Kuwaiti blog, for posting a bad restaurant review about its food, asking for the blog to be shut and more than $17,500 in damages (5000 KD). Kuwaiti bloggers everywhere have announced their support for the reviewing blogger; even though it is highly unlikely the restaurant will get anything from the court, since journalists are almost always favored in libel cases in Kuwaiti courts. It seems Benihana hasn't heard of Cooks source magazine."

Comments

Streisand effect in 3...2...1...

[Even on Slashdot FOE]

Oh wait, I'm fairly certain it has already started. Too bad I'm not going to Kuwait so I can snub these people. Still, they have all the bad publicity they could ever wish to avoid.

Eh, it was probably right

[jandrese]

Benihana isn't bad, but it is badly overpriced for what it is. Unless you're lucky to get the chef who really knows how to put on a show it's simply not worth the premium over all of the other Japanese steakhouse options. The food is alright, but unexceptional--you're paying mostly for the show. If the show isn't outstanding, the whole thing tends to be a waste of time.

This also means reviews for those Steakhouses can vary quite a lot, depending on who the reviewer got that evening.

Re:Eh, it was probably right

[Dunbal]

You're missing the point - it's not about the food, it's about them thinking they can silence any criticism by suing. Whether or not you like Benihana, taste is subjective and opinions are usually protected speech in countries that still believe in free speech. He doesn't have to like Benihana, and he sure is allowed to tell the whole world that he doesn't like it - whether Benihana likes it or not. One would expect a chain with a halfway decent customer service/PR department to try and address the issues, not launch lawsuits. IN MY OPINION Benihana behaved foolishly, and I certainly will never eat there because of this. There are plenty of other, less pretentious restaurants. I'm sure this will cost them far, far more than $15,000 worldwide.

good way to destroy your own business

[grapeape]

Wow, nothing screams "the reviewer must be right" like suing the reviewer. Its probably more likely the place was already having problems and the owner got the bright idea that suing someone would be an opportunity to recoup losses.

Re:business as usual

[v1]

Don't feel bad if your review contributes to a restaurant going out of business. If it's a BAD restaurant, it deserves a bad review and deserves to go out of business. You're doing a community service in both your action and the effect it helps bring about.

Re:Happened to me on a book review

[jelizondo]

Sorry to tell you, that is the wrong way to go.

I was expelled from school for stating my opinions frankly and I got booted from my last job for the same reason. Between one incident and the other, more than 30 years passed, I will NOT learn to shut up

If you shut up before stronger opponents when you are right, then you have harmed the community where you live.

I always tell my daughters, "Better to live one minute standing up than a century on your knees"

May you live long and learn to stand up. It's not easy but it is what keeps the world from turning into a pit.