What do you think of restaurant guides like Michelin?

They're highly over-rated, just like the restaurants they 'award' with their opinions. I'd rather trust my friends' opinions. Or my own.

never even cracked one open

I'd much rather use a crowd-sourced service like TripAdvisor than an appeal to elitists one like Michelin. I'm fully aware that TripAdvisor has many bogus reviews, but at least sifting through the various poster's comments I can get a decent sense of restaurants I might want to try.

Taste like anything else. have been to some great places that are Michelin starred and found a few because they are Michelin starred. but also been to plenty that aren't and to plenty that were average despite being.

What do you think of restaurant guides like Michelin?

Great for their original purpose. Redundant in the internet age. Still love Michelin tyres, though.

Pascal Rémy, a former Michelin inspector and author of the 2004 book "L'Inspecteur se Met à Table" (The Inspector Spills the Beans) alleged that since 2002, the guide has been increasingly used to raise Michelin's profile in foreign markets as its standards have fallen. Mr. Rémy's contract with Michelin was terminated in 2003.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303738504575568442015009552

I went to a starred restaurant ( can't remember how many ) with a customer a few years ago. The beer was cold. The bogs were clean. I didn't pay. It wasn't bad.

We all know that the number of 5 star restaurants in Tokyo was trumped way up so they would sell a lot of copies in Japan. Money making scheme.

I'd rather trust my friends' opinions.

Me too. Some of the best restaurants I've been to in Japan were recommended by friends or coworkers. This is also true for events, festivals, bars, clubs and places to shop.

Their original purpose in 1900 - to promote travel by car, thus increasing sales of tires - was aimed at those wealthy enough to afford a car and travel; not the working middle class. And it was free.

In the internet era I believe it no longer is useful as a guide to countries' hotels, restaurants etc but has more Snob appeal. "I ate at a FIve Star restuarant!" and for a restaurant to lose a star is bad for business.

Personally I've stayed at a five-star hotel and the TV didn't work, bottled water was $5 (on the corner the same botttle was going for $1.25), Wifi was $15 an hour, (Wifi on the corner was free), and the staff was super snobby, yet helpful. The next night I was in a cheap traveller's hotel; free Wifi, free water, TV worked, and the staff was super nice with the ability to have a conversation that transcended their job description.

Utter Nonsense!

The perception of food taste, quality and beauty of ambience varies from person to person.

I checked this guide a couple of years ago only to realize that I just cannot afford to eat at most of these restaurants, duhhhhh!!

My favourite restaurants in Japan are the ones recommended by my friends and colleagues over the years. Only localites in any country can give better information about quality food and restaurants.