How to spot an awful restaurant without going inside
Oct 9, 2005 | 1:05 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AVL
Programs: HH Gold
Posts: 134
I usually just ask the locals where to go when I'm in an unfamiliar city. People are usually happy to talk about their favorite place to eat, and often the best restaurants are the hole-in-the-wall places that don't advertise. I'm usually careful about asking at the hotel, because I often get the feeling they have agreements to recommend certain restaurants. However, asking shopkeepers, taxi drivers, or folks on the street will usually get you a decent local meal.
Oct 10, 2005 | 1:29 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: BCN
Programs: BA Silver VY apologist IB up and coming
Posts: 8,706
1. Never eat at a place with pictures of the food outside.
2. Never eat at a place with the menu in multiple languages with pictures of various countries' flags.
3. Never eat at a place with a "tourist menu".
4. Never eat at a place with plastic/rubber "replicas" of the food outside.
I have all of these in abundance in the town where I live, and learned the hard way.
2. Never eat at a place with the menu in multiple languages with pictures of various countries' flags.
3. Never eat at a place with a "tourist menu".
4. Never eat at a place with plastic/rubber "replicas" of the food outside.
I have all of these in abundance in the town where I live, and learned the hard way.
Oct 10, 2005 | 1:45 pm
#20
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,111
Originally Posted by SWG
...
- Avoid any restaurant with Taco in the name...
- Avoid any restaurant with Taco in the name...
But for national chains, generally yes.
Oct 10, 2005 | 1:57 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: AA Plat (2MM), AS MVPG, DL DM, HH Dia(life), Hyatt Dia, SPG Plat
Posts: 281
Originally Posted by Martinis at 8
Avoid any restaurant that has rodents running out the front door, or rodents on the menu. 
Unless one finds oneself in Cusco...then cuy might just be the house specialty...
Oct 11, 2005 | 6:16 am
#23
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: IAD, BOS, PVD
Programs: UA, US, AS, Marriott, Radisson, Hilton
Posts: 7,203
Never play cards with a man named Doc and never eat at a place
called Mom's.
-- John O'Hara
called Mom's.
-- John O'Hara
warning signs, up to and including the insects.
Oct 11, 2005 | 6:25 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
Originally Posted by alanw
1. Never eat at a place with pictures of the food outside.
2. Never eat at a place with the menu in multiple languages with pictures of various countries' flags.
3. Never eat at a place with a "tourist menu".
4. Never eat at a place with plastic/rubber "replicas" of the food outside.
I have all of these in abundance in the town where I live, and learned the hard way.
2. Never eat at a place with the menu in multiple languages with pictures of various countries' flags.
3. Never eat at a place with a "tourist menu".
4. Never eat at a place with plastic/rubber "replicas" of the food outside.
I have all of these in abundance in the town where I live, and learned the hard way.
You might go hungry in Venice.
Oct 14, 2005 | 2:56 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ORD, MKE, MDW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, AAdvantage Gold, Air Canada Elite, Avis Pref Select, Hertz Gold,
Posts: 1,844
Avoid any place with a dirty bathroom. If the bathroom (which you can visit) is dirty, imagine what the kitchen (which you can't) must be like!
Oct 14, 2005 | 3:03 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LAX-TPE-LAX
Programs: No more status...just doing my best in burning my points/miles.
Posts: 2,021
Originally Posted by cyberdad
Avoid any place with a dirty bathroom. If the bathroom (which you can visit) is dirty, imagine what the kitchen (which you can't) must be like!
The order of importance:
FOOD
then
Dining room
then
Kitchen
then
bathroom
Normally they only get the top 3.
Oct 15, 2005 | 8:36 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ORD, MKE, MDW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, AAdvantage Gold, Air Canada Elite, Avis Pref Select, Hertz Gold,
Posts: 1,844
Party_boy....
Funny, I was just in a similar conversation this past week. I tend to avoid unfamilliar Chinese places on the road just for the reason you mentioned....unless someone specifically suggests one. But that said....my three favorite Chinese places on tha planet are all places suggested by locals and are each "pristine" in every way.
(The Pearl-Toronto, Le Caveau Szechwan-Ottawa, and Jade Garden-London)
Funny, I was just in a similar conversation this past week. I tend to avoid unfamilliar Chinese places on the road just for the reason you mentioned....unless someone specifically suggests one. But that said....my three favorite Chinese places on tha planet are all places suggested by locals and are each "pristine" in every way.
(The Pearl-Toronto, Le Caveau Szechwan-Ottawa, and Jade Garden-London)
Oct 16, 2005 | 12:27 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Smellington, NZ
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, UA 2P, Marriott LTPP
Posts: 1,455
Originally Posted by UAL_Rulez
Gigantic yellow arches atop the building or on a pole outside are a dead giveaway there will be mediocre food on offer.