I wanted to take a few minutes to explain my rating system for restaurants, as I have come to realize that almost all of my reviews fall into the three, four, or five star ratings. Not to sound snobby, but I don’t ever seek out a “bad” restaurant. In fact, I put a lot of time into researching bars and restaurants that I believe are going to be great. So unless I’m really surprised and horrified by the food, cleanliness, or service, two and one star ratings rarely happen.
Here are my guidelines:
One Star: I feel that the restaurant is unsanitary; I may not even be willing to taste the food; I most definitely will never return to a one star restaurant, and discourage anyone from trying it as it is nothing more than an utter waste of time and money
Two Stars: the food is below average and there are major flaws in the execution of the dishes; a restaurant may also receive a two star rating for service or hospitality issues; I do not recommend these restaurants to anyone
Three Stars: perfectly average; the food meets expectations, is executed and presented well, and tastes good; service and overall experience are average too; nothing stands out as either great or bad; I think that anyone can go and have a good meal, and recommend that you give it a try
Four Stars: this is a restaurant that exceeds expectations in some way, be it excellent hospitality, an innovative cocktail menu, or a dish that really stands out; I strongly encourage people to give places with four star ratings a try, as I think these restaurants will surprise and please most people
Five Stars: this is a restaurant that exceeds expectations in every single way: beyond exceptional service, drinks, and food; there are no flaws or criticisms at all; this is a restaurant that I feel people must try, as I am certain they will leave very happy