Restaurant reviews are subjective. Everyone has their own idea of what makes a good restaurant and prioritizes a restaurant's attributes according to their own tastes and preferences. Should anyone form an opinion therefore, based upon someone else's review of a particular restaurant ? If you know and trust the reviewer and have the same tastes and preferences, maybe you should, but if you don't know them, treat their review(s) with caution.
With a view to posting some restaurant reviews on our web site, I recalled some time ago, compiling and posting a list of restaurant attributes that a restaurant's customers may mention should they describe the restaurant, or give an account of their dining experience at the restaurant. So I found it and this is me giving it a bit of a dust off.
Some of the attributes are more important than others. For example, most people may think that food quality, and service are more important than the convenience of parking, or whether the restaurant's entrance is well designed and looks inviting. Having a squeaky front door that is difficult to open doesn't mean that a restaurant is bad but it may be something that indicates the level of attention that is being paid to detail which is a good indicator in deciding whether the restaurant is doing their utmost to make sure that their customers have a positive dining experience.
We don't want to post any bad restaurant reviews and to this end, we always focus on the positive, but we do want our reviews to be accurate and to be a fair representation of what a customer may expect.
Setting out a list of attributes that customers may reasonably expect and judging each restaurant on those attributes is a less subjective and more scientific way to review the restaurants.
Awarding 1, 2, or 3 points to each of the attributes in the list to arrive at a total and viewing this in conjunction with the written review is a fair way to judge the quality of a restaurant.
List of Attributes (Click to read)
Car Parks
Generally, a Restaurant's car park has an entrance that looks inviting with an illuminated sign displaying their opening times and a telephone number for bookings. If possible and practical, they may also have a separate illuminated cabinet to display the Restaurant's menu and prices. Hopefully, the car park will be well lit and clean and tidy with no dustbins, clutter, or rubbish on display. To maximize parking capacity and avoid problems, spaces may be clearly marked out. If the kitchen is adjacent to the car park, the entrance is usually hidden behind a screen. Hopefully, Ladies in heels will be able to easily and comfortably walk from their vehicles to the Restaurant, preferably across a paved walkway.
If a Restaurant doesn't have a car park, but adjacent properties, or businesses do, sometimes, owners have an agreement with them to allow the Restaurant's customers to use 'their' parking spaces in the evening. If the only available parking is some distance away, customers may expect to be told this at the time that they make their reservation. They may also expect to be told where they can park their vehicle and to be sent a simple map and directions by messaging App.
Restaurant Entrance
Restaurants do not get a second chance to make a first impression. Entrances should be nicely designed (Flowers, Plants etc.) and well lit. The Door should be well painted and properly hung so that it opens easily and doesn't catch the door frame, or scrape the floor. Glass and handle should be clean and polished. Above all, it must look inviting.
Meet and Greet
Customers enjoy being met by a member of staff and properly greeted with a warm welcome. If they need a place to put their coats, they may need help with this and expect someone to take them. They should be led to their table and comfortably seated. They will probably want to order drinks before they look at the menu.
Nice/Interesting Decor
A Restaurant should be nicely decorated and adorned with interesting things to look at. Decor normally follows a themeThemed restaurants Normally, dimly lit in the evening, but not so that customers can't see the menu, or what they are eating. It must be comfortable (Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer).