Revisiting the Secret Garden
As many readers of Baliblog may be aware of we did a report on the Secret Garden Bar & Cafe on June 27, 2003 which received many comments, mostly criticizing our opinion and the overall tone of the article. I took the opportunity to meet the owner, Alvin last week and we talked about how a customer was entitled to his opinion, but also how person’s opinion doesn’t always give a fair account of a place.
There were several ways we could go with this ( do nothing, pull the article and say no more, pull the article and replace it with another one full of praise, re-edit the original article etc. ). I discussed the whole issue with Peter who e-mailed me from the Baliblog and invited me to meet with him and Alvin, plus the writer of the article Barrie, Sean President of BootsnAll.com, Baliblog.com and Chris our editor.
I felt that pulling the article would leave us with zero credibility, but that the article should be edited to remove some of the comments that Alvin found unfair, particularly the title ( No Secret in this Garden of Crap ).
With that I agreed with Alvin that I would visit the Secret Garden myself and interview him to find out exactly what the Secret Garden has to offer and to educate myself and other potential customers as to why they should visit.
By Nick | Permalink
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Comments
Thanks Nick for your detailed report. I think you have taken the appropriate steps to try rectify the situation. I especially felt badly since I knew how OFF Barry was. If you recall I spoke to you about Alvin and The Garden comparing the community manager theme that you wrote about in one of your blogs. After talking to you I spoke to Alvin and gave him one of your cards.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Alvin as he was formulating his dream. What a generous man he was sharing his vision and accepting feedback from all over the world that probably didn’t know a whole lot about the restuarant business. But you know he made us feel like we were sharing his dream with him. Did notice Alvin’s attentiveness to every detail of his business. He watches over his staff not to express criticisim but more like a proud papa. I feel lucky to have enjoyed many a night of great food, grog,and company at the Garden. Will be back to enjoy another Christmas dinner and New Year celebration. Nick prehaps we will see you. If Alvin will only forgive you. Kindly Regards, Deb
Deb,
I realise my review was ‘off’ as you put it and I did meet with Alvin this morning and we had a couple of hours together chatting. I had another meal there, re-evaluated the restoran and I am at the Outpost now awaiting Nick to give me the go ahead with what I have written so that I can post it on the blog.
Be assured that I DID see the Secret Garden in a diffent light and my second review will show this. It’s not a case of ‘making up’ but rather another review, and I must admit I enjoyed my meal.
Hey Nick:
Hello from a new member-just signed up from Portland, Oregon to get some help/recommendations for a trip to Paris at the end of August!
Wow-wish I was in Bali, though!
-Jeff