Café Calls Itself ‘Home Of Terrible Trip Advisor Reviews

Christchurch cafe C1 Espresso “publishes its worst reviews in its menu so customers can read them at the table. The info panel of the cafe’s door proudly states it is home to: all day breakfasts, pneumatic sliders, specialty coffee, Golden Panther tea, OK! Nectars, Lucky Sodas and Terrible Trip Advisor Reviews,” writes Ewan Sargent in an article for Business Insider Australia.

The quirky menu, “which is more like a cheap throwaway hipster Zine” also includes stories about the café, its project to support Samoa by selling Samoan products in the cafe, staff contributions and so on.”

“Owner Sam Crofskey says this openness about what would be most cafes’ worst nightmare is to try to counter anonymous, unthinking and sometimes unfair online attacks.”

“Coffee drinkers and diners read the worst reviews while they are at the table and so can form their own impression.”

“They can compare that to the current experience they are having in the cafe I guess,” he said.

While Crofskey says “C1 isn’t perfect and genuine complaints are important feedback”, some bad “reviews can be a mindless lashing out by an anonymous person”.

Crofskey “hopes more decency might come into the anonymous online reviewing for all hospitality places.”

“Maybe people could remember to write a review about some of their good experiences every now and then,” he said.

“Maybe that’s the thing we are trying to say with our menu. We are trying to remind people to be kind to each other and say some nice things. Maybe if you have a good experience somewhere try and write a good review about them.”

Article Source: Business Insider Australia, Ewan Sargent, October 30, 2018

Image Source: Facebook – C1 Espresso