Because yelp is horrible.

You argument is much stronger as "Why trust the waiter over meaningful online reviews?"

That argument is much stronger and I can only attack in niche markets like very high end restaurants.

Oh yes. BaaB - blackmail as a business.

Side question... Is there anything better than Yelp?

Knowing people in real life.

This.

Talk to some locals and you'll quickly learn the atmospheres of various locations, times to go, where to avoid, etc. As long as their preferences are fairly similar to your own the suggestions will always trump what a generic review site will offer. This also sidesteps the problem of paid reviews and the like.

That dive down the road may not be as terrible as it seems. Provided you're looking for a specific type of experience. Avoid the food, stay for the local brew, sweaty 20 somethings and stumbling down alleys with some new friends.

>Worked in the restaurant industry for a few years

Doesn't work very well when the people you know in real life (and whose judgment you trust) can only rarely afford to eat out.

The American Express concierge service.

Friends. I completely avoid yelp.

Because it takes more work to extract useful information from Yelp.