Adventures in Shilling #066: Dafni, Cava, and Veloce Club

It's time for another edition of Adventures in Shilling, in which we fight shilling the best way we can, by shaming tasteless, unscrupulous shills into submission. Well, that's the plan, at least. Fight shills yourself by dropping offensive links to tips@eater.com

Today, we turn our attention to the suspect online reviews for the Theater District's Dafni Greek Taverna, Veloce Club in Soho, and Cava Wine Bar on the UWS.

First up, an enraptured Yelper is over the moon for UWS wine bar Cava:

What better time to leave my thoughts than right after having their AMAZING churrasco entrée. Oh Charisma, savory, tasty, you name it. It was so succulent, I'm so considering having it again. Yes, another churrasco, but this time the medium sized one so I won't embarrass myself. YES, it was that good. Sorry, I am a food lover, but their wine selection is noteworthy too. Red, white, sparkling, you name it - Splendid selections. The Red Sangria is a must try too. Knowledgeable staff. Love the decor. Treat yourself right and swing by."
Shill probability: 55%

On Menupages, a rave review pops up for Dafni Greek Taverna every few days. Many of the most glowing are suspiciously similar (using capitalized first names as usernames, referring to the greek word for each dish with an explanation in brackets, mentioning specific waiters by name). A sample potential shill:

Preparing to see Mamma Mia, with its Greek environment, we planned on eating Greek that day also. After reading reviews of several Greek restaurants, we decided on Dafni's. We were the first ones there, got Gus as our primary waiter, who answered all our questions with preciseness and knowledge...we settled on the appetizer which was Pikilia, a choice of any three spreads, with Dolmades (Grapevine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs). It was a spread of baby eggplant, garlic, olive oil, lemon, a spread of cheese with spices, and a garlic spread which was like garliced mashed potatoes. All this with fresh warm pita bread. The appetizer was a meal in itself. For entrees, we settled on Spanakopita (Spinach and feta pie), and the traditional Mousaka (layers of eggplant, potatoes, ground beef, and bechamel sauce). Outstanding. I would have opted for the Baklava dessert, but I let my wife decide, and she settled on a large bowl of rice pudding. Delicious... Then full of Greek cuisine, we headed off to our play. I would absolutely return. Opa!!
Shill probability: 90%

A Chowhounder looking for dark, sexy bars gets two (now removed) suggestions

TRUST ME ON THIS ONE, Veloce club (located at 17 Cleveland Place, btwn Spring and Kenmare St) Veloce Club is an intimate space hidden by thick chocolate-mocha drapes, but if you get past that you find a dark sexy little hideaway, an incredible wine list and 1950s cocktail throwback, with tailored made leather banquettes and persian rugs. Wickedly terrific classic cocktails on the drink menu, paired with Bar Veloce's wine list and hand-crafted bar snack foods, a DARK SEXY NYC COCKTAIL/WINE BAR for when you have a hot date and totally fed up with the crowds at every other bar in Nolita. Whatever your reason, this place is a sure bet.

Absolutely Veloce Club! Yes yes, fantastic Italian wines and classic cocktails, you'll feel pampered (and spoiled, bartender has an old-school feel about him!) Enter through heavy curtains into the dark lit "club", they're playing old-school music, serving classic drinks and serving tasty bar snacks into the wee hours. Love the dimpled-leather horseshoe banquettes, ostrich leather back bar stools, I won't give away more descripts, you just gotta go there. It's one of our top 5s in Manhattan. Very sexy sexy cool cocktail wine place!!! Hope this helps!
Shill Probability: 96%