The rules.
What we write, what we won't say, and how we handle being wrong.
The voice — what we don't say
Food writing and city guides have developed a dialect that means nothing. Words that sound like compliments but communicate nothing. We don't use them. The following phrases are banned at Top 10 NYC, not as a style quirk but as a basic commitment to meaning something:
If a place is good, we say what's good about it specifically. If it's expensive, we say it's expensive and whether it's worth it. If it used to be great and isn't anymore, we say that and update the list.
Fact-checking
Hours, neighborhoods, and “still open” status are confirmed before publication — not via Google, which is often wrong — but via the spot's own site, recent reviews, or a direct call. Closures that post-date publication are corrected within 30 days of us learning about them.
We don't run press releases as content. We don't rewrite another publication's list with different adjectives. Every verdict is sourced to an actual visit or a named contributor with firsthand knowledge.
Conflicts of interest
No editor or contributor may accept free meals, goods, services, or access from any business we cover or may cover. Disclosure is required for any personal relationship with an owner or operator. If a conflict is material and unavoidable, the piece is assigned to a different editor.
No placement on any list, in any position, is available for purchase or exchange. Advertising relationships, if any exist, are firewalled from editorial. Sponsors don't rank. Ever.
Corrections
We correct errors. That's the policy. Corrections are noted inline at the top of the affected list, dated, and written in plain language explaining what changed and why. We don't use euphemisms like “updated” to mean “corrected.” If we were wrong, we say we were wrong.
To submit a correction: hello@top10nyc.org. Include the list URL, the specific claim, and the correct information. We aim to respond within five business days.