I think everyone has their own style. The crit group that I was referring to earlier is a live, in person group. We meet once a month and have a social time for a while first and then dive into our WIPs. It's run by a small, local publisher and I'm the only member of the group she hasn't published, so everyone has a different relationship with each other.
I give honest feedback always but I'm more nit-picky with my online betas. I try to warn people up front that's my style. Sometimes people like it, and sometimes not. If not, then unlike my real life crit group, I don't have to worry about running into them on the street and having awkward conversation, you know?
I prefer a critique that rips my work to shreds. I'd rather a story be torn completely down and built up properly than to build a whole building and realize it's shaky after I've already shown it off.
Wish I would've known about that when I lived in Huntsville. By the way, congrats on your Panda Express. I hate you a little bit. Thinking of orange chicken from afar...