Eating at a bad restaurant is never fun, and it ruins the entire experience. No one wants to eat in a place that’s dirty or unsafe. We want a good time, food that’s worth the money, and service that we need. With our list of 15 red flags, you’ll be able to avoid a restaurant that’s going to be shady.
Bad Reviews
When you’re reading the reviews of a restaurant, pay attention to the details and make sure you understand why they’ve been posted. Some reviews are guaranteed to be from someone who is entitled and just trying to shame the business (which happens far more often than you think), but most will be genuine. Pay attention to what the restaurant says back.
Dirty Menus
Dirty menus are a sign that the restaurant is not being cleaned. Before the pandemic, we were used to grease and other issues. After the pandemic, we know that cleanliness is essential, especially for people who are immunocompromised. However, if the menu is dirty, you might be exposed to almost 200,000 microorganisms.
Long Menus
The other issue with menus is that if they’re large, the chef hasn’t mastered anything or they haven’t picked a niche. If there is a menu with fifty dishes, this could also be a sign that freshness and food safety are not priorities, which can lead to a negative experience for you.
Smells
If a restaurant smells, it’s not a good sign. We’ve all seen those shows where patrons notice a funky odor and then discover mold under the seats and rotting food in the kitchen. If you’re in a place that smells of burnt food or other unpleasant odors, it might be a good idea to go somewhere else.
Fake Food Items
Fraud happens in many restaurants, and they may claim that they’re “farm to table” or “fresh,” but they might not be. Many of these places have been reported to have seafood, beef, and other items that are mislabeled and not truthful. This means subpar food and potential illness for you.
Dirty Bathroom
One of the biggest red flags of a bad restaurant is a dirty bathroom. This can happen for many reasons, such as staff being too busy, but maintaining a clean bathroom should be a priority. If a restaurant can’t allocate time for this, it’s a good sign that they aren’t focusing on what really matters.
Unhappy People
Eating out should be a fun experience. You should see people smiling and enjoying themselves. But if you don’t, it’s a signal that you should consider leaving. If the people seem genuinely unhappy with the food or you hear them making complaints, that’s a warning sign that your food isn’t going to be better.
Presentation
If you manage to stay in the restaurant and notice things on your plate that shouldn’t be there (such as bugs, hair, or other unwelcome items), you need to leave immediately. Poorly prepared food and finding such items is not only unprofessional, it’s also disgusting. Many people will leave if the presentation isn’t up to par.
The Building Is Falling Apart
If the building has peeling wallpaper, broken chairs, or similar issues, you might not want to eat there. While hole-in-the-wall restaurants sometimes have charm, they should not be the norm. You can tell a lot about a restaurant from its surroundings. No one should eat in a place with dead plants, bugs, rotting, or stained walls. It’s neither healthy nor safe.
Emptiness
If you walk into an eatery during peak meal hours and it’s empty, that’s a red flag. It could be overpriced, have ineffective employees, or subpar food. While the pandemic has shifted peak hours, a consistently empty restaurant usually signals an underlying problem.
Off-Season Items
Most places have a seasonal guide, and it’s become more popular lately as restaurants update their menus year-round. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, if you notice items that seem out of season or a hodgepodge of random dishes, it could indicate issues with the restaurant’s quality.
Staff
The staff can tell you a lot about a restaurant. If the employees seem miserable, have an attitude, or are rude, it’s a sign the management might be toxic. High employee turnover is another red flag. There are ways to keep servers happy, and it doesn’t take much.
Welcoming
The way you are greeted at a restaurant speaks volumes about the establishment. If the hostess is rude, standoffish, or cold, you don’t have to stay. This behavior indicates poor management or disgruntled employees. No one wants to endure such an unpleasant welcome.
Mistakes
If you’ve chosen to eat at a restaurant, know that mistakes can happen. However, if multiple mistakes keep recurring, it could indicate issues behind the scenes. This might also hint at problems in the kitchen and larger, underlying concerns.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of any restaurant. If the chef is having issues, the food will suffer. A dirty kitchen increases the risk of foodborne illness. Some studies have even suggested that a cook might show up to work inebriated. All of these behaviors are chaotic and unprofessional. If you notice anything off in the kitchen, it’s best to leave immediately.
Choose Wisely
Eating out is considered a special experience by many. No one wants to face issues or an unsafe environment. With our list, you’ll be able to steer clear of bad establishments, find the good ones, and dine in a place that offers the best experience.
