Proof the Zagat Guide Is Increasingly Meaningless

By Katharine Shilcutt Tue., Feb. 26 2013 at 10:00 AM

Spotted this weekend on the door of a local Subway franchise:

This has been your friendly reminder that Zagat offers yearly awards in a category called Fast Food - Mega Chains, among others. Subway was the 2012 "winner."

Luckily, even the survey responses seem to indicate that everyone -- perhaps Zagat included -- realizes this is a giant joke.

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Poissant

I don't get it. Isn't 50% of the "Zagat Score" based on 'service' and 'ambiance'? Food and Cost being the other 50%.

How does a place like Subway even enter into that conversation?

And if they don't consider these factors for Subway, how do they draw the line re which restaurants should be exempt from those two categories?

jennytulltx

Well, I tried to go to Lenny's today for lunch but they had plumbing problems and were closed.

SirRon topcommenter

1 Like

What is wrong with highlighting fast food or mega chains? C'mon, we aren't too good for that. FFB has to have my back.

kshilcutt moderator editortopcommenter

@SirRon A) Subway is terrible. And 2) Zagat used to have a lot more credibility than that.

FattyFatBastard topcommenter

@SirRon Well, Subway is pretty bad, even for fast food. When I'm in the mood for a sub sandwich, I head to Lenny's, Jersey Mike's, etc. I tend to steer clear of "the big 3," as in Subway, Blimpy & Quizno's.

SirRon topcommenter

@FattyFatBastard Dude... at Subway YOU ARE THE DAMNED CHEF. If your sandwich sucks then it's your fault! :)

It's also the only place I eat Sun Chips. I'm not sure I'm familiar with the ZAGAT system, but I'm just guessing that has got to be worth a Zagat point or two.

fidelio

@SirRon @Poissant They miss you at the Chron's site, darling. Why not keep camping there?

SirRon topcommenter

@Poissant Force feed a duck with corn and you get your foie gras of a comment. Bravo! I miss this place.

Poissant

@SirRon @FattyFatBastard Make a shit pie with shitty ingredients, and it's your very own renowned shit pie. Of which you should be proud.

Ned38

2 Like

@SirRon Not sure you're familiar with the ZAGAT system; just guessing.

SirRon topcommenter

1 Like

@Ned38 I'm not sure you're familiar with my system; just guessing.

SirRon topcommenter

@Polythang Don't patronize me... whatever that means.

Polythang

@SirRon @Ned38 Ned, to clue you in: SirRon has been called "Houston's Premiere Verbal Onanist"

Nate

1 Like

I don't even own a tv!

vonroach

I stopped reading Zagat when I found out that Tim and Nina were throwing their names around in New York to get reservations and free food. Never trusted them since.

Elouise

1 Like

I never thought much of Zagat, even in its heyday; it was insular and seemed like an echo-chamber of opinion similar to what you'd find at a white bread publication like My Table.

jimbo1126

1 Like

@Elouise My Table is entertaining, well-written and produced, informative, and often has unique perspectives on the city's food scene. Houston should be proud of it. I know I am. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it.

reneef

@jimbo1126 It used to be like this, not anymore!!!

Poissant

@reneef @jimbo1126 I generally pick up an issue to fact check the restaurant gossip that I read months before. It's like reading news that's gestated for a reasonable period of time, during which time things might have changed or no longer are.

Ned38

@jimbo1126 I agree with Jimbo. My mother in Sugarland swears by My Table, and likes Zagat too. She might wear a 'magnifying necklace' now but boy is she ever a reader. And baker.