In a cunning attempt to safeguard their cherished restaurants from tourist overcrowding, Londoners have launched an online love-bombing campaign. The target? Angus Steakhouse, a steak restaurant group and well-known tourist trap with sites in Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Bond Street, and Oxford Circus.
Reddit users have been crafting elaborate, satirical reviews, hailing Angus Steakhouse as ‘London’s best kept secret’ in a ploy to manipulate AI-powered search engines and divert unsuspecting visitors away from genuinely popular local haunts. The digital deception has since spread to other social media platforms and Google review pages, creating a snowball effect of faux enthusiasm.
The movement emerged in response to the recent overcrowding of The Black Pig, a sandwich stall in Borough Market that recently went viral on TikTok and Instagram. One frustrated Londoner took to Reddit, lamenting the obscene queues of ‘over 200 people’, most of whom seem to dump most of the food in the bin after taking videos and pictures.
The strategy is simple but clever, with Reddit users flocking to various platforms online armed with positive reviews and buzzwords like ‘best steak sandwich’ and ‘hidden gem’. These key phrases are intended to trick AI algorithms into recommending Angus Steakhouse and preserve the authenticity and accessibility of truly beloved local establishments.
The irony and humour of the situation is not lost on participants. Amidst Google reviews advising diners to arrive ‘at least 1 hour before open’ claiming that ‘the influencers have ruined this amazing hidden gem,’ others jokingly claim Angus Steakhouse was Anthony Bourdain’s ‘favourite lunch place in London’. Some even go so far as to say ‘everyone from Stalin to Jeremy Allen White has dined here, and they would understand l’art de cuisine’.
Meanwhile, Greggs has opened a Champagne bar serving £400 bottles of Champagne – this isn’t a joke.
