Let’s face it: How people choose where to eat has evolved rapidly over the last two decades. Word of mouth has always mattered to a restaurant’s reputation. But now, personal experiences can go far beyond an individual’s social group.
Online review platforms like Yelp and Google Reviews allow everyone to see the honest opinions of your past patrons. That means any one of your customers could become a micro-influencer for your restaurant. And reviews typically reach high-intent customers — people who are hungry and looking for a place to go.
So, how do you make sure the right information is reaching review readers? First, you need great food, timely service, and a nice ambiance. Then, you have to let people know about it.
A good reputation across the internet can help your restaurant get discovered and help you improve your offerings. Let’s talk about how to make that happen.
Yes, Good Restaurant Reviews Matter
Sites like Yelp, Google, and DoorDash have become diners’ trusted companions. Just how trusted? PYMNTS found nearly 3 in 10 consumers avoid restaurants that are poorly reviewed online. But nearly 5 in 10 are more likely to dine at restaurants that have high ratings on review sites.
Checking reviews isn’t a niche behavior, either. Millennials and bridge millennials (you may hear them called “Xennials”) are the biggest review hounds. Over 55% of this cohort reads customer reviews before going out or ordering in. And 56% of all consumers search restaurants on Google Reviews at least once a month. Move over, Michelin: These are the five stars that really matter.
Ignoring your online review presence could mean losing half of your potential customer base. That’s the bottom line. And it affects your bottom line.
10+ Types of Restaurant Reviews You Want (With Examples and Commentary)
What makes a review effective? Readers trust writeups that include specifics and pictures — characteristics that signal authenticity. They want to hear about the experience beyond the food. And, they want information about how a restaurant will handle their specific needs, be it space for a raucous pair of children or accommodation for dietary restrictions.
Every review won’t include every element above. But your reviews as a whole should answer any question a potential diner might have. Here are ten real restaurant review examples you want your customers to model (and two others you might get regardless).
The following reviews have been lightly edited for grammar and spelling.
1. The Short-and-Sweet Praise
Shakespeare told us brevity was the soul of wit. We say it’s the soul of a good restaurant review. This five-star rating of Houston taco joint Tacos Doña Lena is perfect for the reader who’s looking for quick confirmation of their choice:
What a beautiful and colorful restaurant.
Plus, the food is absolutely delicious and the staff super friendly.
What a perfect place in Houston to get your Mexican food/taco fix.
Liztravelsandeats on Tripadvisor
It has just enough detail to help readers envision the personality of the place. And the last sentence is a lovely (and convincing) sentiment! A few words, when thoughtfully written, can have a big impact.
2. The Detailed Experience Review
Some people are novelists at heart. They like to go deep and walk readers through their overall experience. These reviews are more likely to answer readers’ questions about restaurant details (like atmosphere and dietary needs). They also provide a lovely narrative for readers to connect with:
A world-class experience in hospitality and food.
The restaurant serves a unique style of birria compared to the typical stewed-and-shredded version.
Their meat, as displayed in the birria and quesabirria taco, was wonderfully crisp and tender from the roasting with a clean unfettered goat taste. The quesabirria taco was a textural dream, with the crunchy mole-coated taco shell and the chihuahua cheese giving the taco a nice chew.
The cabeza taco was something I’ve never had before, a super rich and moist taco that truly melts in your mouth.
Not to be missed is their salsa de molcajete, which had a somewhat spicy rich charred tomato base with deep and smoky notes from the peppers. It is a perfect complement to the birria, supplementing the acidity of the lime and adding moisture to the meat while also providing spice.
Everything we had was phenomenal, and I would love to return and try their aguas frescas and birria platter when I have more stomach space.
Despite the phenomenal food, what made me smile the hardest and fall in love with this restaurant is the sense of community it exudes, and that is demonstrated by everyone working there. Most of the patrons are familiar and addressed very playfully, and all of the staff ooze with genuine care and desire to provide.
John and Norma are both beautiful souls, and it reflects in the pure quality of food that they produce. We had a lovely conversation with Norma, and she left me with multiple lessons that I’ll keep with me when cooking for myself.
I am truly saddened that this restaurant will only be available to me while on vacation in Chicago, and wish I could give something higher than five stars.
Birriera Zaragoza in Chicago has its own take on a classic Mexican dish. This review details the food preparation so well we wouldn’t be surprised if your mouth is watering! But Jeffery makes sure the reader knows they’ll get more than just a good meal here.
The details he shares about the staff help readers understand the tone of the restaurant. Someone looking for a quick and solitary bite to eat might want a different restaurant. However, a reader looking for a laid-back experience with friendly service and that homemade touch knows this is the place for them.
3. The Menu Item Highlight Review
Most guests come to a restaurant with some idea of what they want. The menu item highlight review can help diners find a place with the delicious food they’re after. Consider this review that covers some of the most popular dishes at Phoenix’s Little Miss BBQ:
Let me start by saying this place is certainly not the cheapest BBQ around, BUT I can wholeheartedly say that the bit extra you pay is absolutely more than worth it!
This is some really good and proper BBQ. I got the 2 meat plate with sliced brisket and pork belly. Ranch style beans and jalapeño/cheese grits for sides.
This is easily enough food for 2 people, if not 3. The picture shown is at the point I started getting full and needed a break. There’s that much left, and I’m already full.
But, here’s the twist! It’s really, really good. Typically, places you get a lot of food – it’s average at best. This place, it’s lots of really good food. The brisket is like buttah! Truly. And the pork belly was candied and smoked. Literally meaty dessert. I typically gravitate toward the sides at a BBQ place, because sadly, the meat usually isn’t good enough to carry it. The meat is definitely the star here! I have to admit I’ve only taken a couple bites of the sides. I was too focused on that brisket and candied pork belly. But the sides were good! The beans, in particular, have a lot of flavor.
I haven’t tried dessert yet, but I’m really looking forward to the smoked pecan pie. If the rest of the meal is any indication, I have a feeling it’s gonna be amazing.
Alright, so back with an update on the smoked pecan pie. I’ve not heard of smoked pecan pie before tonight. And, to be honest, I’m not certain what smoking adds to the taste of the pie. I don’t really detect any smokey flavor, but the one difference I noticed (but don’t know if it is the result of smoking) is the texture of the crust. Most crust is somewhat thick, buttery, flaky – but heavy. There was something really pleasant about how thin and “crispy” the crust on this pie was. If that’s the result of smoking it, I get it now.
Everything else about the pie is what I expected. Excellent.
Robert’s food review addresses one of the main concerns readers might have about a BBQ joint: meat that’s not up to snuff. Then he gives details on how Little Miss BBQ is different.
A skeptical reader might be convinced by his mouth-watering description of the candied and smoked pork belly. A curious one might go because they have to see what this smoked pecan pie is about. Any reader who sees this review will know whether this BBQ will match their tastes.
4. The Staff- or Service-Centric Review
These days, off-premise dining accounts for around 30% of restaurants’ business. Diners can get almost any cuisine in their home, so those who choose to dine in are often seeking a positive customer experience. Reviews that talk about your friendly staff and excellent service promise these diners will be well cared for:
Everything was wonderful and supplemented with exceptional service from Brian. We both thoroughly enjoyed our entrees, the ravioli and the vegetable tagine, as well as the craft cocktails and excellent bottle of Sangiovese. To put a cap on an excellent meal, we ordered the caramel chocolate chip cookie with ice cream…wow!
Brian disclosed it was his first night serving here and had he not told us, we wouldn’t have known. Exceptional service! He was friendly, made recommendations and was very attentive to our needs. We never had to ask for a thing.
This review of Sycamore, in Columbus, details how the server’s attention made the night great. The fact that it was the server’s first night only makes the review more convincing. Sycamore’s hiring and training process must be excellent to achieve such results.
The detail may even help readers forge an emotional connection. Who isn’t rooting for Brian after reading that?
5. The First-Time Visitor Review
Trying something new is always a risk. Reviews from new customers help other prospective diners familiarize themselves with a restaurant before attending. They may also contain details that returning customers wouldn’t think to put in:
If you’re reading this and debating whether to try this place, go for it! We were in the area craving dumplings and happened to stumble upon Dim Sum Garden. The menu offers a wide variety of options, and we had fun exploring them. The standout for us was definitely the soup dumplings were easily our favorite! Every dumpling we tried, whether steamed or seared, was perfectly cooked with great flavor and texture. They were actually so good that I completely forgot to take pictures of the others before eating them for this review!
One important thing to note: this place is CASH ONLY. We didn’t realize until halfway through our meal when we noticed the “cash only” note at the bottom of the front page of the menu. Luckily, I had cash on hand, but they do have an ATM inside if needed, though it comes with a fee.
Despite that small hiccup, Dim Sum Garden was a delightful find, and we’ll definitely be back for more!
This review of Philadelphia’s Dim Sum Garden provides excellent advice from one newcomer to another. Our card-carrying, tapping-to-pay nation often isn’t prepared for a cash-only joint. Returning customers would already know the drill, but first-timers who weren’t aware of this detail might find their visit soured by having to pay an unexpected ATM fee.
6. The Loyal Customer or Frequent Diner Review
One of the biggest demonstrations of customer satisfaction is continued patronage. Hearing from these folks builds readers’ confidence that they, too, will have a positive experience. Plus, frequent diners know your menu well enough to give excellent recommendations:
Carriqui has become my go-to culinary establishment. The food is delicious and always well prepared. The only thing that tops the food is the outstanding service; although that could be up for debate. For brunch, I usually start with the corn cakes. Try them…you will not be disappointed. Cafe de olla is the perfect accompaniment for them. The chilaquiles are perfect but today I went with the French toast. The best! I usually end my meal with a perfectly mixed carajillo. Yum! Thank you, Carriqui!
Carriqui in San Antonio has won over this customer with its “always well-prepared” food and “outstanding service.” Juan’s experiences clearly don’t depend on getting the friendly waiter or ordering the one good dish. Since he’s been there multiple times, his review is also less likely to be biased in the way high-emotion writeups can be. It’s one big package of trustworthy signals for the reader.
7. The Family-Friendly Experience Review
Small children and fine dining don’t mix. Small children and casual dining don’t always mix. Reviews from those with children help other parents and guardians judge if their kids will do well in a restaurant:
We visited Yaso on a school fundraiser night (I’m a sucker for a dine-to-donate). We planned to get our meal to go but it smelled so good and there were seats open so we decided to stay.
Everything we ordered was delicious. The portions were plentiful. The flavors were deep, and this food was satisfying. My kids also loved some of the imported snack items sold near the register (try the tamarind candy!), and I saw a few people come in to order who were stoked to find these snack items for sale here too.
We sat near the bar and the kids were sucked right into the tv screens featuring videos of the food being prepared in the traditional fashion.
Yaso in Indianapolis doesn’t just accept kids — it’s a kid-friendly environment. Most parents know there’s a difference between children being tolerated versus being welcomed. Sarah’s details about the child-approved snack flavors and the attention-grabbing TV screens signal an environment that’s perfect for families.
8. The Takeout or Delivery Review
Consumers love the convenience of having restaurant-prepared food at home. But there’s more risk involved in this model because transporting food or paying a third-party delivery driver means there are more chances for something to go wrong. A good delivery review might give details about wait times or measures a restaurant takes to make sure their food arrives in the best state possible:
I ordered beef noodle soup to go and that was great and flavorful but what I want to highlight is that they even packaged my to-go bag with a sheet of cardboard at the bottom so the containers have a nice stable platform to reduce risk of spillage.
That little gesture is so thoughtful.
Thank you
Si Lom Thai in Dallas won over this customer with thoughtful to-go packaging tailored to its menu. Her review in turn will address readers’ (very reasonable) fear that soup plus car journey might equal disaster. Reviews that show how a restaurant plans for every eventuality give readers confidence in their ability to provide the convenient and delicious experience they’re looking for.
9. The Entertaining Read or Funny Review
Memorable reviews often win over customers who are browsing restaurant ratings to find a place to eat. In this category, it’s less about what the reviewers say and more about how they say it:
I had seen a video with this fine establishment and had to come and try it for myself. I feel like a good burger is what this country is built on, so I take my burgers as serious as Phil Collins does, and that old mustard tiger is all about them burgers. I went with a double bacon cheeseburger with no condiments or toppings. I feel like I get a better taste of the real stars of the show. I also don’t get soggy buns. Plus, I am on a diet, so don’t judge. The burger was great. The onion rings were good, too. But I am particularly taken with the potato wedges. My wife got all the toppings and condiments. She was very happy with the burger. This place is in a top 5 for burgers for me. The service was excellent. We had a group of 7, and sometimes it’s like herding cats. The tall gentleman who took our order was patient and attentive. Nice T-shirt selection, too.
This customer’s personality shines through in what is otherwise a fairly rote writeup of Hodad’s in San Diego. Knowing a bit about who Ryan is as a person helps readers connect with and relate to him. In turn, that makes them more likely to trust his review.
10. The Review With a Photo
Reviews with photos tend to be more convincing because they’re harder to fake. Plus, the photos often do a great job of backing up what a customer writes:
INCREDIBLE value for money. The food here is totally amazing, and I’m glad I was able to fit this into my day while I was in LA. The service was surprisingly great for how packed this place gets, and the giant line actually moved pretty fast.
Hundred percent recommend getting here as early as you can, even before they open. Tried both the octopus taco and the scallop taco and they were straight up knockouts.
As far as ambience, this is a super cool shared restaurant location, tons of options, and tons of different things you can try and check out while you’re here.
Holbox, a seafood restaurant in LA, doesn’t just sound good to a reader of this great review. It also looks good. Drake’s photos show the scallop and octopus tacos he mentions in his review. They also include extras like his drink, snaps of the menu, and some interior shots. There’s no question whether this reviewer went to Holbox!
11. The Constructive Review With Polite Criticism
Anyone who’s worked in the service industry knows the customer isn’t always right — but sometimes they make good points. Visitors who take the time to politely note issues they have are giving you a chance to show you care about your diners:
I visited with a group of four on Saturday brunch, and the spot lives up to its name as one of the most aesthetic sites in the Gayborhood! You enter from one side to order, then it’s a seat-yourself process afterwards in its indoor space. The menu itself has great variety, from pastries and sandwiches to salads and notable French-Moroccan inspired dishes.
My order was the Croque Monsieur, which was accompanied by a side salad. I thought my dish was delicious, but felt the prices were on the higher end for the portion size. Their pastries were tasty and I think are more worth the purchase if you’re looking for a quicker, small bite.
The only setback about our experience was that we weren’t told our Parisian bread basket included an almond croissant, which was unfortunate since one of our friends had a nut allergy. The menu listed a butter croissant, and we were told we couldn’t substitute and had to order a new pastry, which was a letdown. I think being able to share what’s included would be very helpful in advance, since my friend did ask about nut content in the other dishes.
Overall, Sofi Corner Cafe makes for a great conversational and brunch spot with an ideal aesthetic. However, expect to run a bit higher on the budget if you’re planning for coffee and a full dish.
Sofi Corner Cafe in Philadelphia could have had a serious situation on its hands when its staff failed to disclose the nuts in its pastry basket. This is a customer complaint that’s worth listening to.
Thankfully, the owner of this restaurant did just that:
Dear Chi, we truly appreciate your indulgence and are very vigilant about this and will reinforce with the rest of the team. Ping us anytime you stop by again so we can make it better.
Soufiane via Yelp
It’s reasonable for a reader to be concerned by the original review if they have dietary restrictions. The owner’s response owns the error and promises a fix. This approach reassures readers that the restaurant cares about its customers, even those with specific needs.
12. The Negative Review That Can Be Turned Around
Mistakes happen. The kitchen runs out of a certain ingredient. Dishes change and get mourned by old-timers. These are all unavoidable parts of the restaurant business — but it’s fair game for a customer to talk about how they affect the dining experience. Customers who come to a negative review in good faith can provide valuable feedback:
So I recently ate at the Rio with eight members of my family. I can’t tell you how disappointed we were with the food. One of my all-time favorite meals at any restaurant, anywhere, are your cheese and onion enchiladas. What I received that day was not what I expected. Rice and beans were in separate bowls with some pretty plain little enchiladas, all served on a small plate. What happened to the cheesy, hot enchiladas smothered with sauce, with the beans and rice right next to them on the plate. I understand that sometimes changes need to be made but why mess with perfection! I keep wanting to go back to the Rio but I have to remind myself that it’s not the same. Thank you for listening. I have been eating at your restaurants for 35 years. P.S. still the same great service!
When Denver’s Rio Grande saw this review, they could have shrugged it off with the explanation that things change. But they took the time to respond:
L Bullock-
I would first like to thank you for your support for 35 years. That is amazing and very much appreciated! When we started in 1986 our enchiladas were served on a plate with a wood under liner and as we sit here in 2025 we felt it was time to modernize and update some of our dishes. I can assure you no ingredients have changed, and our classic enchilada is still the same Tex-Mex favorite as it has always been. I do apologize if the amount of sauce was less than desired, and I have been working with the chef to ensure we correct that issue. It’s great to hear the service was still great and I hope you will give us another try to make your experience as great as the previous 35 years.
Response from the owner via Google Reviews
This response matters because it’s not a canned message that the owner clearly copy-pastes under every negative writeup. It engages with the actual complaint and offers a solution. The owner promising to work with the chef might just be enough to bring the reviewer back for another taste in a couple of months.
How To Encourage Helpful Reviews From Your Customers
Thankfully, customers love writing reviews as much as — or maybe more than — they like reading them. PYMNTS found that over 70% of millennials and bridge millennials are likely to leave restaurant reviews. And, 83% of restaurant reviewers leave positive notes compared to 9% that leave negative ones.
Take advantage of these tendencies to boost your online reputation. All you have to do is ask for a review.
You’re more likely to get responses if it’s easy for customers to share their thoughts. Stick a QR code on your table sign holder or packaging. Email or text customers (once they opt-in) with a link to your preferred review site. And automate the request process (with a tool like Chatmeter) to make sure curious diners always have a selection of current reviews to browse.
Restaurants with multiple locations also have to think about the potential for review confusion. You don’t want people to visit your small downtown joint expecting the spacious garden dining setting your suburban location offers. Chatmeter is equipped to help multi-location businesses collect and organize reviews so readers are always clear on what they’re walking into.
If Reviews Are Good For My Reputation, Should I Buy Them?
No. Next question.
(Seriously, if your readers catch you paying for or faking your own reviews, that’s an instant turn-off. They’ll wonder what you’re trying to hide.
Also, you might get penalized by sites like Google and Yelp. The federal government even has rules against buying reviews. It’s just not worth it.)
How to Respond to Reviews Like a Pro
The review response is a powerful tool to win customer loyalty. The more authentic engagement customers see from your brand, the more they’ll trust you to care about them, too.
Plus, responding to reviewers is an essential part of reputation management.
Here’s how to craft a good response to any review you receive.
Responding to Positive Restaurant Reviews
A positive review response should be two or three sentences. Just:
- Make it personal. Address the customer by name or call out the location of yours they visited.
- Address something they said. Find a memorable turn of phrase or a compliment that brought a smile to your face, and tell them how much you appreciate their kind words!
- Go for the warm close. Invite them back or tell them you can’t wait for their next visit.
That’s it! You’ve acknowledged their positive feedback and made them feel welcome visiting you.
Responding to Negative Restaurant Reviews
A good response to a negative review requires a bit more work. Before you even start writing, think about the problem the customer experienced and decide what the solution is. Maybe it’s talking to a server; maybe it’s modifying a policy; maybe it’s working with the chef to update a recipe. If there’s a change you can make to address the problem, set that in motion.
When you’ve done this and are ready to write, here are our suggestions.
Do:
- Respond quickly. Treating customer concerns as urgent shows you care deeply about each patron who walks through your doors.
- Start with a thank you. It’s important to appreciate someone who takes the time to point out a problem that may be affecting many diners’ experiences.
- Re-state the problem. Show that you understand their complaint by putting it into your own words.
- …or ask for more details. It’s hard to honestly address an unclear review. Don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions if necessary.
- Apologize. Tell them you’re sorry their experience wasn’t what they wanted.
- Share your next steps. Hearing about the changes you plan to make will reassure them it won’t happen again.
- ...or explain why you don’t have any. Sometimes, a customer’s review isn’t addressable for reasons they don’t have insight into. Being honest about this will build trust, even if they aren’t happy with the answer.
- Offer to make it up to them. Invite them to reach out to you privately for recompense, be it a coupon or a refund.
- Share your contact info. Let them know how to contact your team so the conversation gets moved to private channels rather than playing out in public.
Don’t:
- Get belligerent. Even if the customer’s complaint was unfounded or their “solution” makes no sense, don’t fight with a paying customer.
- Give excuses. If you put the blame on others, readers are likely to conclude you don’t really care about fixing the issue.
- Default to repetitive language or formulaic responses. Form responses are the easiest way to make customers feel like you don’t care about them. We read a lot of reviews when researching this piece, and many, many restaurants use the phrase “we’re sorry we missed the mark” in every response to a negative review. In this age of LLMs, a customer who sees a similar trend may wonder if you even wrote the comment or just told a machine to do it.
Not every review response will turn things around for the customer who complained. But readers who see that you care about addressing concerns will think better of you, and may decide to give you a chance if you have a lot of good reviews as well.
Get More Restaurant Reviews With Chatmeter
Restaurant review management can be a lot of work. Let us take some of the effort off your hands. Chatmeter’s listing management and review generation solutions make it easy for restaurants to maintain an online presence.
We don’t just automate the process of requesting reviews. We also help you understand what’s generating them in the first place — be it a chef’s special, a thoughtful waitstaff, or a quirky location. Once you see what drives customer feedback, it’s easier to solve problems and emphasize those crowd-pleasers.
Chatmeter also has tools to help local or national chains manage listings for each restaurant location or franchise. Our tools help you keep each listing accurate and up-to-date so customers don’t find themselves surprised when they visit you.
We know how to optimize restaurant listings so you rise to the top of the rankings in Google, Apple Maps, Facebook, Yelp, and other common search engines. Chatmeter is also an official partner of Google Reviews and Yelp.
It’s a review-driven world out there. You need to be a part of it. Learn how Chatmeter can help you master restaurant reviews by registering for a Chatmeter demo today.