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Not everyone is using a mask -

And this applies to all staff, at all times–not just the front-of-house staff.

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Safety distances not respected -

Ensure you eat at a place where tables are spread to respect social distancing rules.

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There isn't a hand sanitizer dispenser -

Most restaurants are happy to make alcohol-based hand sanitizer available to their customers. Beware if they don't have additional measures for clients to disinfect their hands.

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Your table is not disinfected before you're seated -

Tables should be thoroughly disinfected before a customer sits down. If this doesn't happen, leave.

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No one greets you -

If you walk into a restaurant and you just stand there without anyone acknowledging you, it's not a good start.

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No queues -

While it can be very annoying to wait, if there's a queue for a restaurant, it usually means it's a place worth eating.

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Empty restaurants -

Many restaurants remain empty due to the pandemic–we get that. But if the restaurant is located in a busy area, where surrounding restaurants have people eating in them, then that says something.

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Long menus -

There is no way all that food is fresh, so you will be eating frozen food for sure.

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Fake reviews -

While it's always a good idea to look for reviews online, beware if the top ones are from influencers. This might be a sign they're not genuine.

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Check hygiene certificates -

Different countries have different schemes for this, but many restaurants have the rating displayed on their doors. Read it before you walk in.

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Waiters/waitresses are salespeople -

And many do their job very well. They try to sell you certain foods and drinks on the menu, so beware of recommendations.

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When they don't want to take your food back -

If the waiter/waitress resists in taking your food back, then you're probably better off eating somewhere else next time.

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Dirty floors -

Nothing says more about a restaurant than its level of cleanliness. If the floor is dirty, just leave immediately.

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Dirty restrooms -

If these are dirty in any way, then the kitchen might not have a great standard of hygiene either. You might want to scratch that restaurant from your list.

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Manager not helping out -

If the restaurant is particularly busy and the manager is not lending a hand to the staff, then something is wrong.

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New management -

If a restaurant has to constantly reassure clients that it is under new management, it probably means the place has never been great (and there are no guarantees that it is now).

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Fusion -

Beware of restaurants that offer too many different cuisines. They're probably not great at any of them.

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Staff doesn't eat there -

If you're hanging out at a restaurant at the end of the staff's shift, check if they eat the restaurant's food. If they do, this is a good sign.

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Misleading food photos -

If the menu has pictures of food, look around and try to see how the dishes look like in real life. If they look nothing like the photos, chances are you shouldn't let your order be influenced by the images.

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Unknown/unsatisfactory oyster source -

Always ask where the oysters come from. If the staff can't give you a satisfactory answer, don't risk it!

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Cheap steak promotions -

This usually means that the quality of the cut is pretty poor and was likely bought in bulk at a cheap price. A nice steak will cost you some money.

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Seafood smells fishy -

Seafood is supposed to smell light like the sea, not have a strong fishy smell. If this is the case, walk out.

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Handling money and food -

In some places, you might find that the person who cooks and serves the food is the same that handles the money. Pay attention to hand hygiene. If in doubt, don't eat there.

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Soda machines -

If you have the option, get a bottle or can instead. Soda machines sometimes are not properly cleaned.

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Staff don't get along -

Look for places where things seem to run smoothly and the staff seem to get along well. This can have an impact on the service and the food.

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Lemon slices in your water -

Avoid these. It's unlikely that they are freshly cut. Sometimes lemon slices are cut and left in the fridge for days.

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See also -

Foods you should avoid when eating out

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