often asked questions

often asked questions about rather

How do you choose the businesses that are featured?

First and foremost, the business must be locally owned and not part of a chain. Then we look for places that really stand out. Instead of the “everything and the kitchen sink” approach, we edit down to the gems that you would happily drive across town in rush hour traffic to get to, whether they be new and swanky or funky and well worn. Places that we look for are beautifully and/or uniquely presented with food and/or merchandise that won’t be found on every street corner. We look for places where we can feel the owners’ passionate commitment to what they do, as opposed to a place that was opened because of a half-baked business plan.

Do you guys do reviews?

If we feature a business in the book, it means we love it. So our blurbs tend to be more experiential travelogues, instead of reviews or criticisms.

Can I pay you to be in the book?

Even though we’re really fond of money, we won’t be accepting the dosh. The moment that money gets exchanged for the written word, baddddd things happen.

How often do you publish new editions and should I chuck my old edition? And if a business doesn’t make it into all the editions does it mean you don’t like it anymore?

New editions come out every two years. Because we only feature 85 or so businesses in a book (130 in NYC), and each new edition features over 80% businesses new to the book—you’ll absolutely want to hang on to previous editions so you’ll have the entire volume for that city. Though some businesses are repeated because they are just too imperative to leave out, the businesses that aren’t featured for a second go round are all still fantastic.

How can I find the older editions of the eat.shop guides?

Though the older editions don’t appear in our shopping cart, if you would like to purchase previous editions, you can for $5 a book. Email info<at>rather<dot>com to order.

I would love to be an editor, are you accepting resumes?

We are always on the look out for amazing editors! The skills are imperative: you must be well-traveled, write with a distinctive and witty voice and know your way around a digital SLR camera.

Most importantly though, you must subscribe to the rather experience and aesthetic. Send us your resume at info<at>rather<dot>com.

More questions?

If you have any questions or inquiries about this long diatribe of blah blah, contact us. All worthwhile names, emails, phone numbers, social security numbers and blood types are listed.