Honolulu: Local restaurant reviews: Which ones do you read? [moved from Elsewhere in America board]

[HIeats]

Wanted to take informal poll of chowhounders. Of local food reviewers (magazines, newspapers, websites, TV segments) are there any that you follow regularly? If yes, which ones and why?

[Joebob]

I read Honolulu mag., Advertiser, and Star-Bulletin reviews to widen my information net, all with some scepticism for reasons indicated above. Chowhound provides my go-to, most trusted information. Only completely anonymous reviewers can be completely honest: do any exist on Oahu?

[HIeats]

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Chowhound lives up to its name—everyone is very akamai and clued into the food-reviewing press (or advertorial machine). The combined knowledge of everyone that chimes in here is a valuable resource.

[manomin]

What is the purpose of your survey?

[limster]

I read the posts on my local chowhound board.

[manomin]

I do not like reviews that take 2-3 paragraphs of extraneous information such as "when I was in NY or Italy or blah blah blah." I don't "follow' any in particular, there are so few of note. I don't like the ones that are written in exchange for paid advertising where there are a couple. I can say with confidence and I know you know why I used to enjoy the Advertiser reviews as they were thoughtful, intelligent to the point and knowledgeable about food but that person left...............

I read the Honolulu Magazine food articles standing in line at Safeway and they are usually o.k. and often predictable. I like the Maui News reviews if you've ever read them she does a good job. Does this help your poll?

[HIeats]

You are hilarious. Pretty much the way I feel. (And I'm flattered.) I sometimes enjoy Dave Choo's reviews in Hawaii Business, for his injections of humor more than for his food knowledge. Food reviews are like movie reviews—you've gotta find a reviewer who has similar taste to you. Locally Nadine Kam at the Star Bulletin comes closest—and is the most honest.
Yah, what is it with the paid "food sections" here? And your average joe doesn't realize that they are advertorials. Yeesh. Thanks for your input manomin.

[manomin]

You're welcome. What I find to be a ridiculous preface that they are "anonymous" when in this town it is hard not to know who is who in the food world. I was at Tango when Nadine was there obviously reviewing and Goran himself was at the kitchen manning the lunch crowd now really, how anonymous is that? I do miss Leesa Griffith............I like when she
does a "guest" spot in the paper. You're right, David Choo does a good job too. Most people do not realize those 2 sections in the papers are fully paid for their words. My favorite was the slip up of the phrase "a mouse douche" when talking about Mavro you
may recall that a couple months ago. I notice too that sometimes they all do the same place at once then it gets interesting.

[KaimukiMan]

I'm not in the food business, and even I began to realize that most of what is written about in the local papers (especially recently) is as subjective as the news shows reviewing movies or tv programming owned by the same network.

chowhound works best for me.