Terrific to triangulate other guides such as Michelin and Hardens
A brilliant addition to the instant digital culinary scene. I may not always agree with it but find it is very useful app to have and use as required
Will not allow me to log in
I downloaded this app sometime ago and have never been successful in trying to create account or login. I’ve given both my email addresses no response. No facility to reset the account. Complete waste of time.
One of the worst apps out there
I did not think that bad apps were still out there. This is one of the worst I have come across. It is so clunky you need to wait ages for anything to happen. It does not filter results. You end up having to reset your password a lot. I am cancelling my subscription.
This app needs major improvements
The move to an app from a website has unfortunately not paid off for The Good Food Guide. The app is challenging to use, frequently freezing and unresponsive, even on the latest iPhones. For a paid subscription, the expectation is a smooth, user-friendly experience, but it falls short. Unlike its counterparts like the Michelin Guide app, which is intuitive and reliable, The Good Food Guide app struggles with basic functionality. Issues like the cumbersome in-app browser, which lacks autofill for booking restaurants, exacerbate the problem. Considering the cost and the potential for an on-the-go guide to enhance spontaneous dining experiences, this app disappoints. It needs significant improvements to justify its yearly fee and compete effectively in the market.
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Worthless
There is no way to register as a new user, so only established users can log in.
Doesn’t work
I joined the club for £1 and downloaded the app from the Apple Store. All I can see is a blank blue screen. It would appear that there have been no software updates for over a year, which is worrying for such a young app.
Not enough meat
I have every copy of the book from 1990 to the end of publication. I use many apps and wanted to like the new incarnation, but it is disappointing.
The main issue is the small number of restaurants included, especially since it is significantly more expensive than the book. Maybe that will improve.
The new rating system is weird and mealy mouthed.
Uniqueness - who cares? Many places that are not unique are excellent and many places are uniquely awful.
Deliciousness - the plain English is food.
Warmth - the plain English is service.
Strength of rating - also referred to on the app as overall rating, which is much clearer.
The main issue is the small number of restaurants included, especially since it is significantly more expensive than the book. Maybe that will improve.
The new rating system is weird and mealy mouthed.
Uniqueness - who cares? Many places that are not unique are excellent and many places are uniquely awful.
Deliciousness - the plain English is food.
Warmth - the plain English is service.
Strength of rating - also referred to on the app as overall rating, which is much clearer.
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Excellent well researched content
Content of this calibre is unavailable elsewhere. The good food guide is devoid of bias and hype and caters to all tastes and wallets. Truly underrated in the sphere of hospitality media.
Hanging in there
I gave the GFG a four star review when it was still very young, because I felt it was worth crowd-funding it. Now, I think it’s still worth four stars, but that’s partly because I can’t think of any app that does the job better. I’ve still got grumbles, though. The editorial content from the weekly newsletters ought to be available to subscribers through the app. Coverage is still patchy. And I really, really dislike the recently added ‘Local Gems’ category. ‘Local’ is meaningless. And if a restaurant is not categorised as ‘World Class’, ‘Exceptional’, ‘Very Good’ or ‘Good’, then what on earth is a ‘Gem’? Is the category just a dumping ground for places that are ‘Not Good’, or that have been recommended by the owners’ mates but not been visited by an inspector? It feels a bit slapdash.
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Response from developer
Hi Anne, thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We're glad to hear you're happy with your decision to take out a Good Food Guide Club membership. I'm pleased to inform you that we are currently working on making the editorial content on the website accessible through the app. Please keep an eye out for this update.
Poor coverage
Before downloading, be aware, this is NOT the same as the book. It is a new guide, started from scratch, with no knowledge or information passed on.
I really hope it is still true that you are adding more reviews constantly- the coverage is terrible, even in big cities.
Not even complete coverage of Michelin starred restaurants.
It would be more sensible to add a lot of coverage in concentrated areas so that the app actually becomes useful, rather than slowly building it up over time.
Although I agree that some of the 2020 reviews from the book are probably out of date, why didn’t you just start by reviewing all of those restaurants?! Then at least you would have been equally as good as the book.
I really hope it is still true that you are adding more reviews constantly- the coverage is terrible, even in big cities.
Not even complete coverage of Michelin starred restaurants.
It would be more sensible to add a lot of coverage in concentrated areas so that the app actually becomes useful, rather than slowly building it up over time.
Although I agree that some of the 2020 reviews from the book are probably out of date, why didn’t you just start by reviewing all of those restaurants?! Then at least you would have been equally as good as the book.
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