Austin Chronicle Restaurant Reviews
For my mentor text I chose a local restaurant review website that is relevant to my audience because as of right now we all live in Austin. I am a strong believer in researching a restaurant and checking out their menu before committing to a meal, so this particular type of text is incredibly close to my own passions regarding the rhetoric of food.
Restaurant reviews vary from author to author, but I appreciate the reviews on this specific website because they present a biased point of view. After reading a review from this site, the reader is able to understand if the author appreciated their overall dining experience, but is also capable of removing themselves from the particular opinion and is left to consider the facts that have been laid out before them. This type of opinionated review is beneficial to me because the imagery created within the article is so vivid that the reader is able to place themselves in the restaurant and assess whether or not they would enjoy the certain environment themselves.
The review I provided of Forthright, written by Brandon Watson, has notable factors that deem this text a superb mentor review to analyze. He begins by establishing his credibility as a long time Austin-ite, reminiscing on the city’s changing food scene over the years. Following his opening statements he declares what ‘restaurant category’ Forthright is most closely linked to and provides restaurant comparisons in hopes that the reader will find this relatable. Watson knows all too well that when assessing a dining experience, you have to address all of the factors involved, so he also successfully lays out a description of the restaurant’s ambiance and environment. At this point in the text, the visual reader has an image of the atmosphere and is then presented with a detailed review of the menu’s hits and customer favorites. I thought Watson’s inclusion of dish prices was unique and beneficial to the reader if they were considering budget. Another simple aspect that makes all the difference in this review is his final text at the bottom where he includes the restaurant’s location and hours of operation. While yes, any diner could easily Google this information, it is helpful to provide these details with the review itself.
Watson, Brandon. “Restaurant Review: Forthright.” The Austin Chronicle. The Austin Chronicle, 28 Oct. 2016. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.