It's called FREE SPEECH, it is our RIGHT, and any business that attempted to bully me into removing a bad review -- I'd make it even worse for them by posting it everywhere just to teach them a lesson. Do businesses really expect people NOT to express their opinions? As another poster said, Grow up.

Oh, and one more thing. Please folks, listen when your server introduces themselves to you “Hi, I’m John…” and use their name during your meal. Address them politely, using their name, thanking them for good service and making requests in a manner in which you would like to be treated. Very rarely have I failed to get great service when I treat the wait staff like hard-working professionals.

I had a service man call me at home and scream at me that I gave him a 4 instead of a 5 at a local car dealership . He yelled at me that I was causing his family problems. He took it to the max. I called the Mgr and told them what happened. I had NO idea an employee could call you at home over a review. He was let go. A review is a review, plain and simple regardless if its by phone, by internet or word of mouth. Get over it - and take your lumps and GROW UP!

If the restaurant has consistent good food and service, they have nothing to worry about now do they? That is what reviews are for. They need to suck it up. If they don't want reviews, they shouldn't be in the business.

It's interesting that most good quality restaurants have customers waiting in line to be seated and will be around for decades. In the free enterprise system the customer dictates whether your business thrives or goes bye bye. Instead of being defensive, learn and improve. You exist for only one reason; because people are willing to spend money on your food. If your restaurant is really good, people will ignore the online trolls that you fear. If it's not, no amount of online praise will save you.

You dont have ' The right " to post anything.

Yes, it is the right of a consumer to post a review that might be less than favorable. However, unlike journalists, reviewers are not held to any standard. Consumers have rights, but also have responsibilities when using review sites, or similar. Not speaking up to supervisors at the place bad service was given and then writing an anonymous post (closing the door after the horse has run) is lame, and can't lead lead to any solution. Lot's of gray in this issue.

Just as not all restaurants are the same, neither are all the review sites. I personally like Tripadvisor for restaurants, hotels, and destinations...and the owners have an opportunity to publicly deny, respond to or apologize for the comments. I've tried Yelp and UrbanSpoon, and found I often didn't agree with the comments. Also, watch out for scams, if you see 20 outstanding non-specific reviews in 2 days, chances are they are fake.

Hotels have been using rating sites for years, hiring people or instructing those on staff to post 5-star reviews. Likewise, no business is going to get it 100% right all the time, but negative reviews are usually written when someone is emotional, and lack objective details. Look for common threads. One rational, objective review - i.e., good food, slow service - should give the business information on how they can imporove. Irrational, emotional reviews or fake ones do them a disservice and I think some people are just out to get a place for not living up to expectations when the individual has an overdeveloped sense of entitlement. If you don't like Thai food, don't go to a Thai restaurant. If the bulb is out in your hotel room, let them know. If it's not a 5-star place, don't expect turn-down service. Take reviews with a grain of salt.

Restaurant gangsters now? Gimme a break. If your service sucks, fix it.