Although I enjoy cooking (and eating) home-cooked
meals, my family occasionally likes the experience of dining out. While we have our favorite go-to eateries, we sometimes want to check out a restaurant that we haven't dined at before.
Of
course, not all restaurants uphold the same rigorous standards of quality and sanitation. So we tend to be careful when making our restaurant choices.
Here are five warning signs to always
keep in mind when making your selection.
1) Neglected Hygiene: As you step into a restaurant, take a moment to assess its overall cleanliness. Dirty floors, sticky tables, unkempt menus, and neglected restrooms can signal a lack of emphasis on hygiene that may extend throughout the
entire establishment, including the kitchen.
If the visible areas are not well-maintained, it raises concerns about the standards behind the scenes. A well-kept environment speaks volumes
about the restaurant's commitment to food safety.
2) Unwelcoming or Neglectful Staff: Pay attention to how the restaurant's staff interacts with patrons. Unfriendly attitudes or inattentiveness could indicate a deficiency in customer service standards. Moreover, disarray among
staff members might result in errors in orders or even potential food safety hazards. An eatery with a responsive and attentive staff is more likely to prioritize customer satisfaction and safety.
3) Inconsistent or Poor Online Reviews: Prior to making a reservation, invest a
little bit of time to peruse online reviews from multiple sources. Take heed of recurring complaints regarding food quality, service, or cleanliness.
While every dining establishment
(including the fancy restaurants) might encounter an occasional negative review, a consistent pattern of issues should not be taken lightly. Rely on your instincts and the collective feedback from fellow diners.
4) Unusually Empty During Peak Hours: Should you come across a
restaurant with conspicuously vacant tables during its busiest hours or stumble upon a desolate eatery situated in a bustling neighborhood (such as a popular tourist district), take this as a warning sign that something may be awry with this establishment.
5) Extensive and Overwhelming
Menu: An extensive array of menu options often signifies that a significant portion of the offerings is pre-packaged or frozen, rather than freshly prepared.
If you're not OK with
this, look for restaurants with more focused, smaller menus. One of my favorite restaurants actually picks fresh vegetables from their garden each day and offers those on the menu.
6) Detection of Unpleasant Odors, Especially with Seafood: Fresh seafood should not emit any strong or off-putting odors; such scents may strongly indicate less-than-fresh ingredients.
7) Presence of Persistent Fruit Flies or Other
Insects: The presence of fruit flies, regular flies, or any other influx of insects in a restaurant could indicate inadequate cleanliness practices in the kitchen. Just an FYI.
