My Biases

• I consider the following attributes table stakes, in no particular order
  • cleanliness
  • food safety
  • business integrity
  • quality ingredients
  • value for money
• How I sample usually
  • 1st visit: Signature dishes that the restaurant builds itself upon
  • 2nd visit: Expanding orders to a variety of cooking methods & ingredient use skills (e.g. different meats, vegetables, and carbs)
  • 3rd visit: Anything else that piques my interests, repeat orders to check consistency
• Prioritization
  • P0: Flavor weighs the highest.
  • P1: Service should be neutral or positive. Great services only expected at upscale places.
  • P2: Ambiance may add to the experience, but unremarkable ambience is fine with me at a casual place.

Flavor

1. “Tasty”: pronounced flavors from both the ingredients and the seasoning.
2. “Delicious”: meets “tasty” criteria and offers complex, balanced, layered flavors that invite savoring and revisiting.

Ambiance

• “Neutral”: suitable and not negative for the target crowd.

<aside> 👉 Noisy crowds and criss-crossing foot traffic are neutral for a popular, casual diner, but detract from an upscale restaurant.

</aside>

• “Pleasant”: tasteful interior design, taking into consideration colors, furniture, sound, and lighting.

Ratings

A higher rating meets all criteria of its lower sibling.