It takes a lot to run a website the size of Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide — a lot of time, a lot of eating and, frankly, a lot of funds. From web hosting to site maintenance to restaurant meals, the bills show up and everyone expects to be paid. And it’s my pleasure to pay them. That I’m able to do so is thanks in large part to the advertisers you see displayed throughout the site.

If you’ve read the “About Advertisers” statement, you know that not just anyone can advertise on this site; potential advertisers must meet certain standards of quality. I insist on that in order to maintain credibility. I couldn’t in good conscience accept advertising dollars from a business that I did not feel is worthy of your dining dollars. And if you don’t believe that I enforce that policy, I would invite you to ask Nicole Spooner of Mpact Orlando Marketing about it. Nicole is the exclusive advertising representative for ScottJosephOrlando.com and she can verify that not only must she get the OK from me to discuss advertising on my site with new or existing restaurants but also that I have said no to a number of potential advertisers.

So where am I going with all of this?

Besides giving you further explanation regarding my policy, it’s also to say thanks to the many advertisers who make SJO possible, some of which have been with me a very long time.

Tap Room at Dubsdread, for instance. In fact, Tap Room has been with me since day one, more than five and a half years. Rocco’s Italian Grille & Bar in Winter Park and the Venetian Room at Caribe Royale are also longtimers. And Nagoya Sushi. And K restaurant. And Ragazzi’s Pizza. And Eola Wine Company. And David Ramirez Chocolates. And Rusty Spoon. And Chef’s Table at the Edgewater.

Others are newer members of the SJO advertising but they are just as valuable. All of the advertisers are listed below. I want you to know that if you see a restaurant advertising on the site, it isn’t just because they’re paying for the space. It’s because they’re good restaurants and they’re worthing of your attention and your business.

And I hope that when you visit them, you’ll mention that you saw them on Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide. If you get something from reading the reviews and articles here, it’s because they make it financially possible for the site to continue.

So, my thanks to them and to you.

Happy New Year.