A restaurant in Barcelona has taken an unusual stand against the influence of online ratings, urging its customers to leave poor reviews on Google.
Sra. Dolores, which opened in 2023 near the Raval, is led by chef Mathieu Pérez, who says he is tired of what he calls the ‘tyranny’ of online scores. He argues that the ratings reduce the hard work of an entire business to a single number, often distorted by unfair or misplaced comments.
Many restaurateurs share his concerns, claiming that a handful of negative reviews can ruin reputations, with some diners rating venues for reasons unrelated to the food or service — such as failing to get a table or prices not meeting expectations. Mistaken reviews left for the wrong restaurants are also a recurring problem.
Since Pérez launched his tongue-in-cheek protest, Google has been filling up with one-star reviews paired with witty remarks. Comments include ‘I was told to say don’t go’, ‘I expected them to insult me, utterly disgraceful’, and even ‘Rosalía wasn’t here’ — a nod to the singer’s recent visit to the venue.
Despite the online sabotage, the restaurant itself has been warmly received for its playful menu of inventive fried dishes, including potato churros with homemade spicy brava sauce, fried lasagne, Sicilian arancini stuffed with risotto, and Normandy prawns with Indian spices. Food critics have praised Pérez’s cooking as light and surprisingly ungreasy despite its fried base.
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