Did you know the global full-service restaurant industry is expected to be worth $1.7 trillion by 2027? This astounding figure highlights the strong consumer demand for a delightful dining experience. And to attract new business, many restaurants increasingly depend on receiving positive customer reviews.
But, what is the best way to leave restaurant reviews?
Your comments could have a significant influence on diners thinking about booking a table at an eating establishment, so you’ll want to be sure you write a valuable summary of your dining experience. Fortunately, you can provide fellow consumers with outstanding information with just a few tips up your sleeve.
So let’s dive in and learn more about leaving read-worthy restaurant reviews.
1. Be Impartial
There are numerous examples of biased Yelp restaurant reviews and comments on other sites. Unfortunately, it is too easy to criticize eateries based on a personal opinion, but this is unfair and potentially damaging to the restaurant.
For example, your favorite wine may not be on the drinks menu, but this is not necessarily a good reason to make a negative comment. If the rest of the beverages list is impressive, you could praise the restaurant for its range of options. This shows an objective viewpoint and is likely to provide a more accurate picture of the establishment’s offerings.
You don’t always have to be kind, especially if there is a poor aspect to the service, but it’s crucial to be unbiased when writing a review.
2. Ask Your Dining Partners for Their Opinions
Everyone has different tastes, and your dining partners may offer valuable insights you can include in your review. For example, if you order a meal that includes chicken, perhaps a friend eating fish could comment on their meal.
This also applies to what your party thinks of the service, decor, and cleanliness of the restrooms. If you can’t sample a part of the restaurant experience first-hand, asking friends or family for their input can be an excellent way to gain helpful information for your review.
3. Give Specific Examples
Your review will lack detail if you write that “the food tastes great” or “the waiter was helpful.” Instead, try to expand on your points, providing plenty of information about why you liked a restaurant.
Your readers might want to know what it was about your meal that was so great, or if the waiter was able to advise on the ingredients in various dishes. You could even add pictures of the table setting and your meal to give people an idea of what it was like to be in the restaurant.
4. Add Value in Your Review
Many consumers rely on the comments they find on restaurant review sites to help them book the most suitable eatery for their next meal. Therefore, you need to consider what factors they would find helpful.
For example, the best restaurant reviews could include information about access arrangements for disabled diners or if the waiting staff can help you book a taxi home. You could also include details about the local area and if there was somewhere nearby to go for a cocktail after your meal.
These kinds of comments can provide a unique insight, making your restaurant review stand out from those from other diners.
To help you write an informative post, you could think of a restaurant review example that helped you decide to book a meal. You can then take the basic layout of that review and create your post using a similar format.
5. Ask the Restaurant to Rectify Mistakes
Restaurants are busy environments, and this can especially be the case if you’re eating in a popular location. While it would be nice if everything ran smoothly, this may not always be the case.
A top-class chef could accidentally overcook your steak, or the waiting staff could forget to ask you if you’d like dessert.
Rather than taking this as a sign of a terrible restaurant, you can give the business a chance to make up for their error. If you point out your meat is too well-done, they may be more than happy to take it back and cook you a fresh, delicious replacement.
Should you have been waiting a long time to order, the waiter might apologize and explain this is not their usual standard of service. They may even offer you a free coffee or a discount on your bill.
You can then write a positive review based on the restaurant’s willingness to provide you with a high-quality dining experience.
6. Don’t Review at the Table
With the advancements in technology, many restaurants now provide you with a QR code for Google Reviews. This is a terrific and convenient option that allows you to leave Google restaurant reviews without manually looking up the website.
But, if you scan the code from a menu or receipt, this doesn’t mean you have to post your comments straight away. You may find it beneficial to wait until you get home, allowing the overall dining experience to sink in. You can then return to the QR code link and write a well-thought-out review.
Leave Fair and Accurate Restaurant Reviews
Leaving restaurant reviews can be challenging, as it’s crucial to be fair to the establishment and its staff. But, you can make the process easier by remembering to be as impartial as possible and giving the restaurant a chance to remedy any issues before you post your comments.
It can also help to give examples that support your opinions and think about how your post could help other diners. You could soon find you’re a respected online restaurant critic!
If you’ve enjoyed reading this post, be sure to browse more helpful articles on our website before you go.
