Ratings Explanation

Ratings are based on a scale of -10 to +10. This scale was used by Paul Pudaite with regards to the ranking of hand strength in a particular poker game.

I'm sometimes asked how I could possibly rate a slice of bread higher than a medallion of foie gras. The short answer is that I don't know. A longer answer might go into comparing intention and purpose and expectation and the like.

I might rate some bread a +9, and a rack of lamb a +2. But take either of them, call it a chocolate souffle, and put it in front of me for dessert, and it probably won't score much higher than a 0.

In my Seattle food report, I rate Rover's a +4, which is a decent rating...it's numerically equal to a few restaurants I love. But I don't love Rover's. In fact, I dislike it quite a bit. I dislike it because it's expensive, uses pounds of butter and cream, and is hailed as one of Seattle's best restaurants. The food is pretty good, but when I pay that much, I want great. When I pay $10 for Mexican, and Peso's gives me pretty good, I'm thrilled. So, I'll rate them the same, but my feelings about them are vastly different.

Are you still awake?


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