One of my pet peeves is seeing people rating dishes 10/10 without any context apart from frivolous comments such as “yummy”. The most egregious example I recently encountered was someone giving Tetsuya’s iconic Ocean Trout Confit a low rating because they thought it would be salmon, my God.
When I rate and review a restaurant I look at 5 different categories with a total score out of 20.
Food – 10 points
Food is the most important factor of my review, it needs to be delicious and best in class.
Questions I ask myself about the food:
- How is the food plated?
- What kind of produce did the chef use?
- Was I full after the meal?
Hospitality – 4 points
I’m assessing the service I received across their attitude, professionalism, and proactiveness.
Questions I ask myself about the hospitality:
- How was I greeted upon arrival?
- Were my drinks topped up?
- How quickly were my plates cleared?
Atmosphere – 3 points
For atmosphere, I’m looking at the vibe of the restaurant, think noise levels, table setting, and decor.
Questions I ask myself about the atmosphere:
- What is the quality of the crockery, cutlery, and glassware?
- How are the tables spaced?
- Is there a view?
Value for money – 1 points
For the category, the restaurant sits in, was the meal worth the price I paid for?
Wow factor – 2 points
Did I have an incredible culinary experience or did I just have a meal?
Is there something special that makes me message my friends afterwards?