Latest news with #YelpElite
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
Florida restaurant sued diner who left bad Yelp review about ‘subpar meat quality' and ‘so so' ribs
A Tampa restaurant unsuccessfully sued a diner who left a negative review online that ripped the eatery over its 'subpar' meat quality, 'dry' spare ribs and lukewarm coffee. Irene Eng, a blogger and frequent poster on Yelp, Google and TripAdvisor, was hit with a defamation lawsuit seeking at least $50,000 last fall after she left a one-star review of her dining experience at Hales Blackbrick in December 2023. The restaurant, described in the filing as an 'innovative, inspired, seasonal Chinese restaurant' operated by award-winning chef Richard Hales, alleges that Eng's review contained false statements about her dining experience and even included a photo of his wife, Jenny Hales, who is not a public figure, according to the lawsuit filed in Florida state court. 6 Irene Eng is a blogger and frequent poster on Yelp, Google and TripAdvisor. Yelp/Irene E. Eng's Dec. 11, 2023, review of Hales Blackbrick wasn't a full-on takedown, but it wasn't glowing either, according to the Tampa Bay Times. She praised the food as 'well presented' but found it 'a bit too sweet,' and critiqued one server's wine etiquette as 'odd.' Some dishes fared better than others in her write-up. The eggplant and mushrooms were 'wonderful,' and the tiger shrimp were 'tasty and succulent.' But the spare ribs were 'so so,' and the Hawaiian prime ribs, she wrote, were 'the worst: way too much fat.' While she didn't try the Yangzhou fried rice herself, Eng noted her friends thought it was 'greasy.' She was especially critical of the coffee, calling it lukewarm — 'a Cardinal sin!!' 6 Irene Eng was hit with a defamation lawsuit after she left a one-star review of the Hales Blackbrick restaurant in Tampa. Google Maps In a comparison to other establishments, she wrote: 'The better Cantonese restaurants serve their spare ribs tender and moist. Theirs is neither: looking unappetizing, dry and could use more cooking time.' Eng, who is of Chinese descent, also made observations beyond the food. She included a photo of Chef Richard Hales' 'impressive mobile home parked in the lot' and questioned the restaurant's description of a dish with Sichuan origins. Eng is a 'Yelp Elite' reviewer — a designation awarded to users recognized for their consistent, high-quality contributions and active engagement within the Yelp community. She has authored over 660 reviews spanning various establishments, including restaurants, beaches, libraries and urgent care facilities. After asking Eng to remove the photo of Hales' wife, the restaurant said she instead doubled down — reposting the negative review again in January 2024, and once more in October, without returning to the restaurant. 6 Eng praised the food as 'well presented' but found it 'a bit too sweet,' and critiqued one server's wine etiquette as 'odd.' Yelp/Irene E. 6 According to Eng, the eggplant and mushrooms were 'wonderful' but the spare ribs were 'so so,' and the Hawaiian prime ribs were 'the worst: way too much fat.' Yelp/Irene E. Hales swiftly reacted, publicly calling Eng's review 'abusive,' 'arrogant' and 'disrespectful.' He then issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding she remove the review, alleging defamation. The reposted review on Yelp triggered a consumer warning label on the platform reading, 'Consumer Alert: Questionable Legal Threats,' which appears when Yelp detects potential legal disputes related to a review. The lawsuit alleged that this tag has further harmed the restaurant's ability to attract new customers. According to the complaint, the review and its republication hurt Hales Blackbrick in several ways: driving down its average rating, discouraging potential diners and damaging its search engine optimization (SEO) rankings, which in turn made the review more prominent in Google results. The lawsuit alleges that these factors have caused the loss of 'significant revenue, goodwill, confidence, trust, and standing,' and that its ability to maintain business relationships has been put at risk. 6 Eng posted on TripAdvisor that she was accused by the restaurant of leaving an 'abusive review.' Yelp In February, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Christine A. Marlewski dismissed the case, ruling Hales failed to substantiate his claims. Marlewski determined Eng's reviews were directed toward the public and not intentionally targeting specific business relationships. Eng celebrated the dismissal on her personal blog, labeling the lawsuit 'frivolous' and expressing determination to defend free speech. Meanwhile, Hales, who subsequently closed the Dale Mabry location to focus on a new Hyde Park venture, conceded that Eng had the right to her opinion. 'I'm 1,000% for freedom of speech — you can say whatever you want,' Hales told the Tampa Bay Times. He acknowledged the challenges chefs face in navigating criticism without appearing overly sensitive. 'We're not thin-skinned, we're just humans,' he added. 6 The restaurant claimed that Eng's review hurt its business. Yelp/Irene E. The Post has sought comment from Hales, Eng, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google. Leaving negative reviews against small businesses have led to legal disputes in the past. In June 2021, a Washington State-based company, Executive Roof Services, unsuccessfully sued a couple for $112,000 over 1-star Google reviews, alleging defamation and interference with business expectancy. That same year, a luxury auto dealership in Texas filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman who criticized the dealership on Yelp, but the case was dismissed. In 2020, a Florida-based property management firm filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against a man over a critical online review, though no significant judgment was publicly reported. In 2016, a dental practice based in Georgia sued a patient for defamation after she left negative reviews on Yelp and Google regarding billing practices. The case was eventually dropped. In 2013, a Utah couple filed suit against after the retailer fined them $3,500 for a negative review — leading to a default judgment awarding them $306,750 in damages.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local donut shop ranks in top 50 in the USA
A donut shop in Montgomery County is listed as one of the top 50 shops in the country. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Yelp recently released the ranking, using Yelp Elite's reviews, ratings, and 'drool-worthy' photos to help determine which shops are the best. TRENDING STORIES: At least 1 dead, another injured after shooting, crash in Springfield Boil advisory issued for parts of Montgomery County; see if you are impacted Newlyweds receive Amazon gift cards before groom's deployment, company says they won't honor them The shops were ranked 1 through 50 by the volume and ratings of reviews, according to Yelp. Three donut shops in Ohio made the list, including one in Montgomery County. Bill's Donuts at 268 N Main Street in Centerville ranked No. 33. Donna's Delcious Dozen in Columbus ranked No. 8, and the Vegan Doughnut Company in Lakewood ranked No. 38. According to Yelp, all businesses listed were marked open and have a passing health score as of March 20, 2025. Yelp's full ranking is listed below: Novel Ice Cream in Phoenix, Arizona HOLE - Hot Doughnuts and Fresh Coffee in Asheville, North Carolina Munchkinis Donuts Shop in Covina, California Kin Bakeshop in Santa Barbara, California BJ Cinnamon in Folsom, California Pip's Original Doughnuts & Chai in Portland, Oregon Nord's Bakery in Louisville, Kentucky Donna's Delicious Dozen in Columbus, Ohio Beiler's Bakery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Purvé Donut Stop in Honolulu, Hawaii Ani's Bake Shop in Aiea, Hawaii Round Rock Donuts in Round Rock, Texas Beacon Doughnuts in Chicago, Illinois Peaceful Provisions in Beacon, New York Golden Crown Cookies & Mochi Donuts DG Doughnuts in Ocoee, Florida Glazed Over Donuts in Beacon, New York Donut Run in Washington, DC Sweet Coloradough in Glenwood Springs, Colorado Leonard's Bakery in Honolulu, Hawaii Oakmont Bakery in Oakmont, Pennsylvania Oram's Donut Shop in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Detour Doughnuts And Coffee in Frisco, Texas Greenbush Bakery in Madison, Wisconsin Country Donuts in Crystal Lake, Illinois Carl's Donuts in Las Vegas, Nevada Glaze Doughnuts in Las Vegas, Nevada Fresh Donut & Deli in Salt Lake City, Utah Long's Bakery in Indianapolis, Indiana Gibson's Donuts in Memphis, Tennessee Sedonuts And Coffee in Sedona, Arizona La Estrella Bakery in Tucson, Arizona Bill's Donut Shop in Centerville, Ohio Donut King in Minneloa, Florida Dough Joe's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Hell Yeah Gluten Free in Atlanta, Georgia Rise + Roast in Albuquerque in New Mexico The Vegan Doughnut Company in Lakewood, Ohio Mr D's Donuts in Shawnee, Kansas The Local Donut in Scottsdale, Arizona Hole in One Donut in Tampa, Florida Friednyl Donut House in Henderson, Nevada Spalding's Bakery in Lexington, Kentucky OMG Donuts & Bakery in Concord, North Carolina Avon Donuts Inc in Pontiac, Michigan Sluys Poulsbo Bakery in Poulsbo, Washington Cranky Al's in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Old Fashioned Donuts in Chicago, Illinois Doe Donuts in Portland, Oregon Fresh Donuts in Kansas City, Missouri For more information, click here. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
