Trying authentic cuisine is one of the most important parts of traveling, but how do you choose the perfect place each and every time? If you choose wrong, you’ll just be dissatisfied at best, but at worst, you’ll just be left sick. That’s why it’s important to evaluate a restaurant or café before ordering—but how do you do it? Let’s look at some common red flags.
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1. Menus that are too long
It would seem that you want as much choice as possible when it comes to food options. That sounds good in theory but in practice… You really should stick to restaurants that don’t offer dozens of dishes. Why?
Imagine a place with a huge menu. Each dish is not picked that often because, well, there are just too many options. This means the restaurant might not always have the freshest ingredients for every dish since it’s not practical to keep everything fresh if it’s not selling fast. And no one wants to risk eating something made with stale ingredients.
When it comes to food, it’s better to choose a place that offers a few dishes but puts its heart into all of them. You can always try another restaurant if you want something different.
2. Public Wi-Fi with no password
Public Wi-Fi is certainly convenient, but be careful. Public hotspots are open to anyone, so it’s hard to know who else uses them. What’s more, if they’re not password-protected, they’re even more dangerous.
Hackers often target public Wi-Fi networks because they provide an easy hunting ground for unsuspecting victims, from whom they can steal data using man-in-the-middle attacks and similar cyberattack methods. What’s more, hackers often take advantage of tourists seeking free Wi-Fi, creating fake hotspots that mimic the real ones but are set up to steal transmitted data. When you see a hotspot called “café Wi-Fi,” you can’t be sure it’s a genuine network.
Our advice is to simply avoid public Wi-Fi networks, but we know that it’s quite difficult. Nowadays, everyone needs an internet connection, and using mobile data abroad can be very expensive due to roaming prices. However, there’s a solution: an eSIM card. eSIM apps allow you to buy inexpensive local data plans and use the internet normally without worrying about roaming prices or unsecured public Wi-Fi networks in cafés and restaurants.
3. Reviews that look suspicious
Thanks to the internet, we can see what people think about a place without even talking to them. Customers are eager to share their experiences on sites like Google Maps or Yelp, especially the particularly good and bad ones. There is certainly such a thing as too bad an average score, but can it be too good?
The internet isn’t always a fair place, and some people will do anything to get customers. This includes manipulating reviews. Depending on the country and applicable laws, buying customer reviews can be completely illegal or a gray area.
The best way to protect yourself from restaurants with fake reviews is to be vigilant. An honest place is likely to have a mix of human-sounding reviews focusing on different aspects of the customer experience. Reviews that are 100% good and sound very similar, written in strange marketing language, or perfect reviews mixed with extremely bad ones should raise your suspicions.
4. Popular among tourists only
Any place offering good food will be crowded not only because of tourists but also because of the local population. If you see locals enjoying the restaurant, it’s a good sign. Bad restaurants are often full of tourists, especially if they’re near popular attractions.
If everyone looks non-local and speaks English in a restaurant in a non-English-speaking country, there’s a good chance that the place is just a tourist trap attracting hungry and unsuspecting foreigners. You will do well to avoid such places—the food is often overpriced and not even that good.
5. A bathroom that is an absolute mess
Lastly, take a sneak peek at the bathroom. A clean and stocked bathroom in a restaurant is pleasing to customers and a testament to the owners who show they care. If the bathroom floor is wet from who-knows-what, there’s no soap or toilet paper, and the walls are a mess, how can you be sure the kitchen isn’t in a similar state? This is not only disgusting but also a real health hazard—it’s better to avoid places that can’t afford proper hygiene.
So, next time you’re out trying to pick a spot, remember these little tips. After all, it’s all about enjoying your meal without any unwelcome surprises.
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Whether she is researching the latest trends in home decor, life-changing destination getaways, or the best way to maintain your finances, Dewey takes pride in leaving no stone unturned. She is passionate about distilling and delivering high-quality information that you can use to upgrade your life.
