Not every restaurant is going to offer a five-star experience, obviously. BUT we do want to enjoy the food and atmosphere when we go out to eat. Mistakes with your order or having to wait a long time can happen anywhere and don’t have to ruin your meal, but there are some warning signs that indicate you might have a disappointing experience, according to restaurant experts.
These red flags might not be enough to make you leave, but according to restaurant consultants and food critics, they do suggest the place may be struggling with service, quality or culture.
- It’s dirty - This one is obvious if the menus are sticky or the glasses are lipstick-stained, but restaurant consultant Salar Sheik says the real test of cleanliness is in the restroom. “If those aren’t clean, I guarantee you that the kitchen’s not being held to a higher standard,” he says.
- The place is empty - If it’s a Monday night, this isn’t concerning, but if the dining room is empty during peak hours on a weekend, Sheik says it could indicate the community has given up on the restaurant.
- There’s no management presence - Managers are visible in the dining room, greeting customers, talking to tables and helping servers when needed, but if you can’t tell who’s in charge, Sheik warns “It might be because no one is.”
- It’s overloaded with social media influencers - Sure, they can help get people in the door, but they might be getting special treatment and freebies to promote a restaurant. Candy Hom, a food critic, tour guide and chef, says she can’t trust when every post or review is from an influencer and maybe you shouldn’t either.
- The staff argues with you - Mistakes will be made, but staff members should own it and try to make it up to you when that happens. It doesn’t matter how good the food is, if the staff argues with you, it ruins the experience.
- Servers don’t know the menu - When they have to guess on ingredients or check on the answer to every question, Sheik says it shows poor training and “a lack of pride in the product.”
- You’re being upsold aggressively - We get it, suggestive selling is part of the job, but when it feels like a script or they’re harassing you, it’s a sign the restaurant is struggling and doesn’t care about hospitality as much as sales.
Source: Fox News
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