"Best of" Lists (place, seafood, parent)

[wjjbward]

Worth considering is that the Virginian Pilot most likely drummed up the so-called "best-of" idea to get more advertising dollars.

I can attest to this. My husband used to be an advertising manager there. They do the list every year because it pulls in advertisers who want big ads to be noticed and voted for. This in turn, will bring in more customers, they hope.

You have to understand, though, that advertising is the life blood of any newspaper. The articles are important, but when it comes to the bottom line, it's all about how much money the ads bring in. That's what keeps the paper up and running.

Of course, don't tell the writers this! They'd balk b/c of their huge egos! LOL But I digress...

I enjoy looking at the "Best of" lists to get an idea about something. You have to use your own discernment and judgement by doing your own "homework" about anything/any place.

This year is the first year I voted in the Best of the Beach contest. I wrote in most of my votes, though. No one is going to try to woo me into voting for them.

[LibertyCedar]

Here's proof that the "Best Of" awards hold little measure of true value. Here's an email asking for me to vote. Note, I have removed the company name...

"It's that time of year again where I shamelessly plug "Acme Company" and "Acme Company 2" for the Virginian Pilot 'Best Of' awards. If you have a few minutes today and don't mind voting for us again this year please go to Best Of Hampton Roads | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com and vote. Please take your time and vote for your other favorite places or just end your voting after the 1st page and then move on and vote for us in the other cities listed. I really do appreciate your time and your vote! Thanks again and have a wonderful week.

Sorry for the late notice but today is the last day of voting. If you make it in great, if not ‘Thank you’ anyways.

[Trevor92]

I'm glad to see a thread about this because I just voted and was about to come here and start one.

The bottom line IMO is to pay no attention to the best of awards in the Virginian-Pilot.

Why certain business appear over and over so that voters can just check off those selections why other more deserving businesses are left off so that they're only selected by people writing them in just make this contest silly and biased. Why in the world would they include Captain D's as an option for best seafood restaurant in Virginia Beach and not some of the very nice seafood restaurants near the ocean? I suspect it has to do with $$$. Of course that's one of many complaints I have about the process.

I'm sure many people just go through and vote out of the options given, so these awards are meaningless to me. I wrote a respectful letter to the "best of" at the Virginian-Pilot complaining of their voting process with suggestions on how to improve it in the future by not prompting voters to vote for certain businesses, I'll post back if I get an answer. Trying to restrict people to one vote skews it because some of the people that stand to gain or lose money from such an award are voting night and day on it as well. I much prefer how I've seen other papers do it with blank ballots that must be mailed in.

[beach kat]

I actually voted on the best at the beach website and there are plenty of options that I am certain people just guess at. It has no meaning in my opinion.

[jhrichmond]

Originally Posted by Trevor92

I'm glad to see a thread about this because I just voted and was about to come here and start one.

The bottom line IMO is to pay no attention to the best of awards in the Virginian-Pilot.

Why certain business appear over and over so that voters can just check off those selections why other more deserving businesses are left off so that they're only selected by people writing them in just make this contest silly and biased. Why in the world would they include Captain D's as an option for best seafood restaurant in Virginia Beach and not some of the very nice seafood restaurants near the ocean? I suspect it has to do with $$$. Of course that's one of many complaints I have about the process.

I'm sure many people just go through and vote out of the options given, so these awards are meaningless to me. I wrote a respectful letter to the "best of" at the Virginian-Pilot complaining of their voting process with suggestions on how to improve it in the future by not prompting voters to vote for certain businesses, I'll post back if I get an answer. Trying to restrict people to one vote skews it because some of the people that stand to gain or lose money from such an award are voting night and day on it as well. I much prefer how I've seen other papers do it with blank ballots that must be mailed in.

I voted too and noticed Captain D's I thought it was funny. Don't get me wrong, when at home in Richmond, I don't mind a little Captain D's drive thru, but in Virginia Beach??
I wrote in the names of restaurants for many of the votes. Mainly Steinhilbers.
This forum and sites like tripadvisor are always much more reliable for good suggestions from real people.

[Erma]

Not everyone can afford to go to Croakers or Captain Georges. Captain D's is a quickie for those that don't want to spend a bundle. IMO it's a bit too greasy for me, I'd rather do the fresh, not frozen stuff.

[jhrichmond]

Originally Posted by Erma

Not everyone can afford to go to Croakers or Captain Georges. Captain D's is a quickie for those that don't want to spend a bundle. IMO it's a bit too greasy for me, I'd rather do the fresh, not frozen stuff.

The question was the best restaurant for seafood, not the best restaurant for cheap seafood. Never heard of the two you mentioned. My favorites are Steinhilbers, Lynhaven Fish House, and Alexander's on the Bay. It has nothing to do with cost, only taste.

[BikesareBetter]

The 2008 List is out??
I went to Web Site all it says is " The 2008 Best Of Voting Process has ended"

Where can I see the 2008 list?

[Erma]

Originally Posted by jhrichmond

The question was the best restaurant for seafood, not the best restaurant for cheap seafood. Never heard of the two you mentioned. My favorites are Steinhilbers, Lynhaven Fish House, and Alexander's on the Bay. It has nothing to do with cost, only taste.

You never heard of Croakers? You have to go past it to go to Lynhaven Fish House and Alexanders IMO is overated and over priced. Steinhilbers is a nice, out of the way place to enjoy an evening meal. But, someone did bring up (if you read a few posts back) that captain D's was on the best of the beach selection.

[jhrichmond]

Originally Posted by Erma

You never heard of Croakers? You have to go past it to go to Lynhaven Fish House and Alexanders IMO is overated and over priced. Steinhilbers is a nice, out of the way place to enjoy an evening meal. But, someone did bring up (if you read a few posts back) that captain D's was on the best of the beach selection.

I looked it up and Croakers is .63 miles from my condo. Is it good? I pass it all the time, apparently.