How We Review Restaurants
Every review is based on genuine in-person visits. No sponsored content. No paid rankings. Here's exactly how we work.
Last updated: 18 February 2026
Restaurant reviews are only useful when they're honest. We assess every restaurant on the same six criteria, with scores weighted to reflect what actually matters to diners. Below is a full breakdown of how we work, what we measure, and how we arrive at our final scores.
Our 6-Step Review Process
At Least Two In-Person Visits
Every restaurant we review receives at least two visits before we publish — typically on different days of the week to account for variation. We pay for every meal ourselves. No comped dinners, no free tastings, no advance notice given to the restaurant.
Full Menu Assessment
We order across multiple menu sections — starters, mains, desserts, and drinks. We look for consistency between dishes and assess whether the menu represents value at each price point.
Food Quality Scoring
Scored on flavour, freshness, technique, and presentation. We pay particular attention to the difference between made-from-scratch cooking and pre-prepared shortcuts — things that are obvious to an experienced diner but easy to miss if you're not looking.
Service Evaluation
We assess how staff interact with guests — attentiveness, knowledge of the menu, handling of dietary requests, and pacing of the meal. A rushed dining experience is noted and weighted in the score.
Atmosphere and Environment
Covers the physical space, noise levels, cleanliness, lighting, and overall comfort. We assess whether the atmosphere matches the price point and style of the restaurant.
Value for Money Assessment
Scores are benchmarked against comparable restaurants in the same area and price bracket. We consider portion sizes, ingredient quality, and the overall cost of a representative meal for two.
How Scores Are Weighted
| Criterion | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Food Quality | 40% | Flavour, freshness, technique, consistency across dishes and visits |
| Service | 25% | Attentiveness, menu knowledge, pacing, handling of requests |
| Value | 20% | Price vs. portion size, ingredient quality, and comparable alternatives |
| Atmosphere | 15% | Comfort, noise, cleanliness, ambiance, and fit with the price point |
Our Commitment to Independence
We do not accept payment, free meals, or advertising in exchange for reviews or rankings. Every restaurant on this site has been assessed independently using the methodology above. If a restaurant's quality changes over time, we update or re-review accordingly.
If you believe a review is inaccurate or outdated, contact us and we'll investigate.