You enter a nice-looking restaurant and you’re ushered to what appears to be a sticky table. Or you ask your sluggish waiter about the oysters and he has no clue what you’re talking about. You know, the usual red flags that just beg to stay clear of the place.
But as much as we enjoy helping you not to fall into the wrong hands by calling out the telltale signs of a bad time when eating out – what if we flip things over like a patty and look at promising signs instead? Inspired by u/halfblood_god‘s “What are some green flags in restaurants?” prompt on Ask Reddit, we decided to hand-pick the best answers to see how people spot fine dining establishments from a mile away.
#1
If you walk into a restaurant that serves food from a different country and every single person in there (working and dining) is from that country.
In my experience that means you’re about to have an awesome meal.
Image credits: Ok_Whatever_Buddy
#2
One time I was at the Hawthorne Hotel with my family. Our orders were taking a while because they started a bunch of new staff members that day so obviously mistakes will be made. My mother did have to send one thing back because it wasn’t cooked all the way but otherwise it wasn’t a big deal.
The manager of the dining area kept communicating with customers and she offered us a free slice of cheesecake each for desert to compensate for the delay.
The free cheese cake was nice but moreso was the communication and the fact that the manager wasn’t belittling the kitchen staff but just letting us know that some of them were inexperienced.
Image credits: ThePaddedCashier
#3
Servers that get excited when talking about the menu, and recommend an item that is not the most expensive.
Image credits: reallynotmeforsure
#4
The same people are still working there 20+ years later, that means they treat their employees right.
Image credits: Aldous_Hoaxley
#5
Clean bathrooms. Tells you a lot about the cleanliness behind the kitchen doors.
Image credits: DavidCantReddit
#6
Small, focused menu.
ionised replied:
This is green flag #1.
Image credits: AlcoholicMasculinity
#7
Employees in good spirits.
Image credits: giraffe_on_shrooms
#8
A place that smells good when you walk in. The best restaurants I’ve ever been to have all smelled fantastic as soon a you open the door.
Image credits: Esme-Weatherwaxes
#9
Busy on a Monday night.
Image credits: Jarek86
#10
I like seeing a broad distribution of demographics eating somewhere. If you go to a taco truck in the hood and there are a few old timers, a couple cops, a few office workers, and a few construction types all eating there you know it is going to be great.
Image credits: Misterstaberinde
#11
A huge lineup of locals willing to wait for food is our number one way to find the best places to eat. We live in Mexico 6 months a year and look for restaurants full of happy Mexican families, not full of tourists!
Image credits: Global_Fail_1943
#12
If it’s Vietnamese or Chinese and the bathroom doubles as a cleaning product stockroom, and there’s a grandma in the hallway snapping green beans (or other minor prep).
Food is going to be bomb.
Image credits: purpleRN
#13
Menus you don’t need a QR code to scan.
Image credits: Spiritual-Clock5624
#14
Owners’ kids doing their homework at one of the tables or even operating the register.
Image credits: BatMacumbaHeyHey
#15
If they’ve had the same linoleum counter top and booth sets since the 80s, the breakfast is gonna slap.
Image credits: JBOYCE35239
#16
A place that seems to have “regulars”.
Image credits: StandStillLaddie
#17
How long the servers have been there. We frequent a restaurant where a server remembers us from when my wife was pregnant. That was almost 7 years ago. The owner takes care of his staff who in turn take care of the customers.
Image credits: beadle03
#18
Seeing staff eating the food. Especially bits of leftovers during service.
Seriously, I’m a career chef. We see and make the same food day in and day out, and if the staff are still excited to eat it, that’s always a great sign.
Also, a healthy work/social dynamic. If the staff clearly dislike eachother, chances are they’re too preoccupied to give you their best.
Image credits: PhabioRants
#19
I like it when I ask their opinion and they give a thoughtful, sincere answer that shows they really know the food.
Image credits: MCDexX
#20
I’m in the south. If the cooks are over 50,over 300 lbs and barefoot or wearing flip flops it’s going to be good.
Image credits: HuckleberryUnited613
#21
Small menu, clean, the menu isn’t sticky.
Image credits: DutchHasAPlan_1899
#22
The owner is on the floor doing work, taking orders, chatting with customers etc.
Image credits: WehingSounds
#23
They could fit more seats and tables in, but have chosen not to.
Image credits: Odd-Concentrate-6585
#24
They don’t offer coupons, groupons or other deals.
Image credits: Apart-Bathroom7811
#25
I once was in the Subway we frequented at a past job. The health inspector happened to come in, and get in line.
Image credits: paiaw
#26
My bestie went to culinary school and worked in some great places. She looks to see if the people eating there are smiling.
Image credits: monkeysatemybarf
#27
Lots of vegetable options. fresh ingredients
Image credits: subtle_existence
#28
If you order the food and the person ringing you up yells at the chef in their native language, you KNOW the food’s gonna be good. As someone who’s Indian, it’s basically how I differentiate good and bad restaurants.
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