I’m often labeled as judgmental, which I believe comes from my standards, observation, and honesty—the very essence of this column. However, being judgmental comes with responsibilities: not rushing to conclusions and staying open to new experiences, even those we might dislike. While identifying our likes and dislikes is crucial for personal growth, it’s essential to acknowledge that our perspectives might be flawed and subject to disagreement. Therefore, oversharing our judgmental thoughts comes with some risk.

But the beauty of our society is that everyone has the freedom to express opinions. Equally, we have the freedom to judge those who express them, and even roll our eyes at them.

Now, let’s talk about a visitor who took the risk and openly voiced an opinion on the food at a beloved local restaurant. It was claimed, “Too fresh, too organic, not greasy enough.” According to the staff, this was said with a straight face, and while it might sound sarcastic, it was, in fact, an honest review.

While, rightfully, I’m critiquing this customer’s life choices, I do celebrate the choice of words and, therefore, “La Cocina de Oro” ’s newest slogan, which matches their commitment to providing high-quality food. This review inadvertently validates their standards, even if they don’t align with everyone’s tastes.

And since judging is in order, let’s do what’s right and review some other local restaurants, and as per usual, remember these opinions are my own and may be sprinkled with sarcasm:

Two Rivers Café: “Too welcoming, they smile a lot, pizzas look too good to eat.”

Sabrina’s At The Forks: “4.9-star rating, can’t taste anything artificial, too close to the river.”

JADAA’s Kitchen: “Run by horribly nice people, big portions, too flavorful.”

Boomtown Lounge & Backyard: “Menu is too innovative, people seem to be enjoying themselves too much.”

While judging is one of my favorite activities, let’s remember it’s all subjective, and what seems bad to some might be excellent to others. So, locals, old-timers, newcomers, tourists, and visitors from other galaxies, let’s pretend that “too fresh, too organic, not greasy enough” was, in fact, an excellent review and perhaps a new standard for our food choices. Again, you might agree to disagree.