How to Write a Restaurant Review

Eating is an important part of life and dining at restaurants and food outlets is common practise in modern society. There are numerous opportunities for those who wish to turn their dining experiences into cash by writing restaurant reviews. Before earning any money, however, it is essential to know what goes into writing a good review.

What to Include in a Restaurant Review

A dining out experience is a combination of several factors. Here are some of the important ones to consider:

• Service
• Atmosphere
• Decor
• Ambiance
• Crowd
• Lighting
• Seating
• Menu
• Wine list
• Price
• Music
• Location

It is helpful to keep a notebook on hand and jot down thoughts about these areas as the meal progresses.

Focus on the Food

The main purpose of a restaurant review is to discuss the food. This requires the writer to be familiar with terminology such as stir fried, baked, sautéed, jus and escargots. Some restaurants specialize in specific types of food such as Greek, Italian or Chinese. As a reviewer it is important to know the way international cuisine should look and taste.

Here are some of the main points to consider when assessing food quality:

• Ingredients
• Taste
• Texture
• Freshness
• Portion size
• Variety
• Color/appearance
• Temperature
• Aroma

Who is the Target Audience

This is determined by the type of restaurant. Is it the type of place that attracts students or businessmen? Is it a fast food place, a vegetarian restaurant or a top French Restaurant?

After determining the target audience, word the review appropriately. It should follow a natural progression from booking a table, to the service while being seated, to the actual meal and payment at the end

Recreate the experience by using words to build a picture of the ambience, food, flavour and service. Personal opinion is acceptable but don't write a review that centres around, "I did this and I did that." Avoid generic descriptions like delicious, tasty and savoury and choose specific words that will mean something to the reader.

Include the Restaurant Details

This is an area sometimes neglected. Give the full name of the restaurant, the address and phone number and state their opening hours and website if they have one. Some restaurants have desirable settings such as a beach front or vineyard. It is worth mentioning this in the review.

Restaurant reviewing often starts out as a way to make a bit of extra money. Some writers end up making a career of it. For those who enjoy eating out, it's a field worth pursuing. Just remember that it takes time and perseverance to become successful.