I will base my ratings on:
- Flavour: Pretty self-explanatory. I will also consider if the food is well-made (ex. not too salty or fatty).
- Value: Do you really get what you paid for? Are the proportions correct? How does it compare to other similar restaurants?
- Overall Atmosphere: Decor, seating, speed and courtesy are what I consider to be important in this category.
- Uniqueness: This will be a bonus category that pops-up from time to time if the restaurant offers something very original compared to other restaurants in the area. (This bonus category will add 0.5 or 1 to the overall score.)
The overall rating will be averaged out from Flavour, Value, and Overall Atmosphere and will be bumped up if the restaurant scores anything in Uniqueness. Price ranges, type of cuisine, and type of dining will be stated in each review so that you can better gauge as to what to expect when arriving at the restaurant.
Each category will always be out of 5 and the following should serve as a general guideline of how I felt regarding each category:
1 = Very poor (Avoid at all costs!)
- If a restaurant actually gets this score for any of the categories, do not go to them at all or else you're in for a terrible dining experience.
2 = Poor
- Getting a score here means that I would only eat here if I was desperately hungry and there was nothing else available in the area. In terms of "Flavour", a 2 will mean that it is edible and that's it. In terms of "Value", this will mean that it's a ripoff, but at least you're getting some type of food to fill your stomach. If it's in terms of "Overall Atmosphere", this probably means the staff and the decor are much to be desired, but it won't totally ruin your dining experience.
3 = Average (Not very memorable)
- "Average" in this case means that the restaurant itself is passable, but nothing to write home about. If all of the good restaurants are closed, come here to at least have a decent meal. In terms of "Flavour", a 3 means the food should taste as it should, but nothing will really stand out about it at the end of the meal. In terms of "Value", you get what you paid for. In terms of "Overall Atmosphere", the staff are probably pleasant to be around (whether be it in their attitude or speed) and the decor is appropriate.
4 = Good
- Scoring a 4 will mean that this restaurant stands out in some good way and it is one to highly consider if you're out on the town. In terms of "Flavour", it's well-made and the flavours are better than what other similar restaurants have to offer. In terms of "Value", you get a good deal; slightly more than what you pay for. If it's in terms of "Overall Atmosphere", the staff are friendly and their service is great. The decor is sophisticated or highly matches the restaurant's theme and enhances the dining experience.
5 = Excellent (The best out there!)
- This rating will be rarely given out and will be reserved to the best of the best, in my humble opinion. This means, for all categories, that the restaurant is simply one of the best among similar restaurants and is a must-try.
I do like to add half marks a lot of the time, so this will definitely influence the overall ratings a bit. If you are having trouble interpreting the overall score, round the overall score to the nearest number and compare it to this guideline chart. For example, if a restaurant scores a 3.15, assume it is equivalent to a 3. If another restaurant scores a 3.5, assume it is equivalent to a 4.
