Many of us rely on restaurant reviews to decide where to enjoy a delicious meal, especially when we are on vacation. As a small business owner and parent, I understand how important it is to simplify life and make informed decisions. That’s where the art of writing truly helpful reviews comes in.

Restaurant reviews are subjective by nature. Many factors come into play besides food: the overall experience, the service, the price, value for money, the restaurant’s popularity, its history, location, trendiness, and what you seek at that moment. Our preferences might not align with everyone else’s, and that’s okay.

How can you help others make the right choice for them? It’s simple: provide relevant information in your reviews.

Take the time to offer context about your expectations and the context itself. This approach allows readers to get a better understanding of the reviewer’s perspective and decide if the restaurant might suit their own preferences.

What I suggest you do when writing reviews is to:

• Be specific: Share details about the dishes you tried, the service you received, the ambiance of the restaurant, and the time of your visit. Describe the patrons. Paint a clearer picture for potential diners.
• Be fair: When evaluating a restaurant, use appropriate benchmarks. Travelers seek a glimpse of the experience they can expect at this restaurant compared to others in the same category. Provide enough information for people to determine how they would categorize the restaurants. Remember, not everyone has the same expectations.
• Reveal your likes and dislikes: Share your personal preferences regarding the restaurant’s ambiance, style, price point, and anything relevant to give context to your review. This helps readers understand your unique perspective and how it may relate to their own preferences.
• Be honest, but kind: Constructive criticism can be helpful, but remember that there are real people behind the restaurant. Offer suggestions for improvement rather than just complaints.

With these tips in mind, we can all contribute to making the review process more informative and enjoyable, helping travelers, locals, and restaurant owners alike.

So, next time you eat at a restaurant, remember that your review can empower and inform others in their decision-making process.
Happy dining, traveling, and reviewing!

+ photo credit: Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels