Most people don’t take the time to read reviews or do some research on the restaurants they eat at. As a person who loves trying out new places, let me tell you that’s a terrible habit. Usually there are some glaringly obvious signs that should set alarm bells ringing – from enormous menus to unfriendly staff and more, there are several indications that can warn you against the quality of dining experience you might be about to experience.
Her Circle spoke to food bloggers and critics who were asked: What red flags do you look for when you go out to eat? Here are our top 10.
1. Multiple Cuisine Offerings – You may seem impressed by the range but what if the menu sounds like it could be two or more restaurants? They probably can't do either well. For example, sushi, tandoori and pizza at the same place, do you really expect to find authenticity there?
2. Large Menu Size – A large menu always means that the produce and prep is frozen. And since restaurants usually have a lot of staff attrition it is difficult to train new people to be good at making 50 different things, so the quality is going to suffer.
3. Paid Or Plugged In Reviews – Establishments usually have teams dedicated to garnering good publicity, whether it be an article or pictures of influencers dining there. But what you need to keep a look out for are reviews on Google, Zomato or similar apps.
4. Long Service Time – Ever entered a restaurant that is packed and notice majority of the tables don’t have food? This is a clear indication that the kitchen is not equipped enough to cater to the number of tables – which means it is understaffed or staffed with chefs who aren’t trained; this will affect the quality of service and food.
5. If You Can Smell The Kitchen – If you can smell the seafood or fryer from outside the kitchen space, then you may want to head back home and order in. Trust us, the smell can only mean frozen & stale produce that’s cooked in old fryer oil in utensils that aren’t deep-cleaned at all.
6. No Hygiene Standards – Keep a look out for wait staff and food handlers and notice their hands – I f they look like they are greasy/ unclean, that’s a big red flag. If the waiting staff grabs clean glasses at the top when handling them without gloves. If the bathroom is unkempt – the soap dispenser is empty, the toilet paper is over, and the floor is wet. If you see dirty menus, cutlery or tableware – nothing else is going to be hygienic.
7. Overhyped Touristy Restaurants – If you want good food ‘Eat where the locals eat’. If you only see tourists at a restaurant, chances are it was known for its quality in the past and now due to large volumes the taste and quality has sunk.
8. If They Don’t Know Where The Produce Comes From – Dependable and responsible restaurants are always happy to share with customers the sources of their produce. If a restaurant refuses or hesitates to tell you where they source their seafood from that’s a major red flag!
9. Rude Staff – Unwelcoming staff look like they’ve been forced to receive you. Wait staff that ignore your requests or ignore you in general.
10. Sick Wait Staff – If you see staff that’s sniffing, coughing or visibly unwell chances are they don’t get sick leaves and restaurant owners encourage their staff to work while unwell.