How to Write a Professional Restaurant Review
How to Write a Professional Restaurant Review
By Lorraine C. Sauer, eHow Contributor
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Learning how to write a professional restaurant review can expand your current marketable writing skills as well as serve as another avenue for monetary gain. Almost everyone loves to eat and there are publications that are willing to pay top dollar for well-written restaurant reviews. By learning what to look for when reviewing a restaurant, you can increase your chances of publication and payment.
Instructions
- 1
Visit the restaurant you will be reviewing at least twice before writing your review. You may want to dine at the establishment during the week and weekend to offer differing viewpoints regarding the atmosphere and service quality. You may also want to schedule your visits so that you are able to order off of both the lunch and dinner menu, which will give you a comprehensive taste of the food selection and quality.
- 2
Observe details regarding the restaurant's atmosphere and decoration, as well as the level of service you receive from all employees you come in contact with: the hostess/host, your server, the busboy (or girl), and even the manager on duty if circumstances permit.
- 3
Study the other patrons closely in order to get an idea of the demographics of the restaurant's clientèle. Does the establishment attract families or is it the local college hot spot? You may also be able to determine the dress code by observing what the majority of people are wearing.
- 4
Order one selection from each menu course if possible. Trying everything from an appetizer to a desert selection will give you a broader dining experience and enable you to write a complete restaurant review. When reading the menu, take note of whether the dining establishment has a website. This can be utilized as further research material after you've left the restaurant, particularly for evaluating the price of various selections.
- 5
Concentrate on the texture, flavor and presentation of the food as you are experiencing it. The most crucial element of a restaurant review is the descriptive way you convey the food and its quality.
- 6
Begin writing your review soon after you leave the restaurant. You'll be less likely to forget any observations you had if the dining experience is still fresh in your mind.
- 7
Organize your restaurant review into categorical sections. At the very least, you will want to comment on the atmosphere, service quality, food and price. You may want to also review the alcoholic beverage selection and children's menu if applicable.
- 8
Write 50 to 100 words for each category you reviewed. The best way to make sure that your review flows is to write it as though you are having a conversation with a friend. Your audience wants to read an honest review that is easily understandable. With the exception of describing food presentation and flavor, aim to keep your verbiage simple.
Tips & Warnings
- Sometimes writers concentrate so hard on reviewing the details that they forget to look at the big picture. Consider inviting a friend or family member to dine with you in exchange for a second opinion.
- Don't tell the staff that you are writing a restaurant review. This could adversely impact the quality of service you receive, resulting in an unintentionally biased review.