30+ Restaurant Review Examples You Need to Use

Fun fact – an increase by one star can lead to a 5-9% jump in restaurant sales. Evidently, restaurant reviews have become a prime source of business for eateries, big or small.

Now, if your food is great, you ought to have no trouble getting reviews. Simple, right?

Nope!

Why you need to be more strategic about your restaurant reviews

94% of diners in the US base their decisions off online reviews, and they have many reasons to dine.

• 64% of diners are craving a certain type of food.
• 58% want to celebrate a special occasion.
• 43% are there for the ambiance.

But wait, there’s more.

• 83% of diners aged 44+ want that traditional restaurant experience.
• 65% opt for delivery or takeout because they ‘re hungry, and they don’t want to cook.

What do these numbers tell us?

One, the dining experience is not limited to just the food. Two, if the customer is the king, the customer base is the kingdom. And when it comes to preferences, no two kingdoms are alike. And lastly, today’s diners have come to expect conveniences and options that go beyond what’s on the menu.

So the next time you ask for a review, you may want that review to talk about all of the aspects that make your place desirable. A well-placed example or two in your review form is just the hint your customer needs.

To help you get started, here's a sample survey template you can use. (Feel free to customzie it the way you like!)

Restaurant Review Survey Template

Preview Template

Use This Template

Let’s dig in!

30+ restaurant review examples for more well-rounded feedback

Restaurant review examples for the food

1. “I’ve been looking forward to trying [food name] at [restaurant] for awhile now, and was so glad that I did! The food was so delicious and the service was really great, too!”

2. “The [dish name] was so yummy and I ate the whole thing, even though it was quite heavy for one person. [Dish name 2] was tender and went well with the sauce and vegetables. Perfectly cooked and the flavor was amazing.”

3. “We got the [dish name] which I would recommend, the [dish names] which my BF loved, the [dish name] which was good…but I could have skipped [dish names]. Everything was honestly delicious and I cannot wait to go back.”

4. “I rarely get to eat [cuisine name] due to my [insert dietary restrictions]. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Everything we had was absolutely delicious and made with so much love.”

5. “We had the [insert dish names], and the [dish name] for dessert. The [dish name] was the stand out. Overall, would rate __. Worth a repeat visit!”

6. “We loved this place because it wasn’t just the typical dishes you usually find. We ended up ordering [dish names]. Some of the dishes did feel a bit pricey for the size, but we enjoyed them so much, we felt they were worth it.”

Restaurant review examples for customer service

1. “[Name] should get at least 5 stars for her helpful service and good attitude. She helped walk me through the rewards on my phone app and was able to get the reward. She even threw in a bonus dessert. Great job, [Name]!”

2. Never have I had a more pleasant meal. [Name] was so polite and helpful, going above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Thanks [Name] for the wonderful care given to us. Forever repeat customers!”

3. “I didn’t have a reservation but was seated right away and looked after by [Name]. She answered all the questions we had about the food and was a great hostess!”

4. “We had a lovely meal here last night, with personal recommendations right for us. Got to try new flavours, and even walked away with a jar of our own [freebie] as a gift from the head chef.”

5. “We were served by [Name], and his parents own the restaurant with his dad doing the cooking. Lovely family and [Name] was genuinely engaging to talk to.”

6. “[Name] and her crew served us a fantastic lunch! Great food and atmosphere – highly recommended!”

Restaurant review examples for the ambiance & atmosphere

1. “Overall a great 1950’s diner experience with great atmosphere and endless breakfast options. If you haven’t tried this place yet you need to.”

2. “The vibes here are pretty fun! It kind of looks like a night market with the neon lights and loud music. While I wouldn’t necessarily come here for a romantic date, I definitely recommend grabbing a group of friends.”

3. “The interior is always bustling. I love the backdrop of [insert decor items and unique objects]. It gives classy brunch vibes by day and party vibes by night.”

4. “This restaurant has such a cozy and charming atmosphere! From the moment you walk in, you feel right at home. The warm lighting, rustic decor, and comfortable seating make it an ideal place for a relaxed meal.”

5. “The open kitchen adds to the excitement, allowing you to watch the chefs in action. While it can get a bit noisy, the overall experience is fantastic for those who like it lively.”

6. “The atmosphere is a little dark and the lighting is to accentuate the food. Everything is orchestrated to not distract from what’s in front of you.”

Restaurant review examples for pricing

1.”Pleasantly surprised by how affordable this place is! Most entrees are under $15, and the portion sizes are generous. It’s a fantastic option for anyone looking for great food on a budget.”

2. “Considering the fresh ingredients and flavorful dishes, you really get more than what you pay for. Highly recommended for those who want a quality meal without breaking the bank.”

3. “This restaurant is on the pricier side, with entrees averaging around $30-$40. However, the exquisite flavors and presentation make it worth every penny. Perfect for special occasions or when you want to treat yourself!”

4. “They were having a deal for both [dish 1] and [dish 2] for [price] per person, so that wasn’t too bad considering that it’s all you can eat as well.”

5. “I loved this place. The food was great and cheap, especially for the area. Everything was well cooked and the food filled you up.”

6. “[Restaurant name] are the best bang for your buck in the city. For [price] you get a huge portion of delicious [dish name].”

Restaurant review examples for efficiency

1. “[Restaurant name] has the best drive-thru customer service I’ve ever experienced. They are so friendly and efficient and they run like a well-oiled machine. And the food is delicious!”

2. “A lovely experience from booking on the app so easy and then a very fast response. When we arrived our request for a private booth was accommodated.”

3. “Came on a Sunday afternoon for Mother’s Day and was seated quickly. We were a pretty big party of 12 but the staff managed us well.”

4. “The restaurant is spacious and clean with a larger downstairs area to dine as well! Another good thing is they can accommodate pretty large groups, if not at one table, then spread out over a couple/few.”

5. “It was super delicious! Mine was a takeout order so I was pretty happy with the quick service.”

6. “Fast and friendly service. Has 3 self serve kiosks that accept coupons.”

What are the hallmarks of a good restaurant review?

The reviews above share a few characteristics.

1. They reviews don’t stop at a star rating. They also provide detailed feedback.
2. The reviews also go into the specifics. They talk about the food, the ambiance, the service, the price – all of the things that made that experience stand out.
3. The best reviews provide visual proof of the experience – photos or videos of the drinks, the decor and the food.
4. If they had great service, they mention staff members by name. This personalizes the whole experience.

How to collect more restaurant reviews in 4 steps

Ask politely

Request satisfied customers to leave a review, either in person or through your feedback form. You can automate your feedback requests with tools like SurveySparrow.

Oh, and, you can create a survey in just a few seconds with the AI builder, for free! Imagine the amount of time you can save! 

Make it easy

Include a link or a QR code to your feedback form in an easy-to-spot place; like your reception desk, table, waiting area or menu. You can also use other channels like a post-transaction SMS, and email request or even a paper form.

Automate review tracking

Use review management tools to save time on tracking online feedback. These tools can also quickly help you analyze customer ratings and overall sentiment, and spot areas for improvement.

Follow-up promptly

Take action ASAP on negative reviews. To speed things up, involve your team, and lead by example to make customer engagement a priority. This might mean finding the time to respond to feedback, even when it’s not part of your job.

Best practices for responding to restaurant reviews

• Personalize responses using the customer’s name.
• Choose a response window, and stick to it. But don’t delay.
• Thank them for the feedback and directly address their concerns.
• Invite further interaction. Provide your official contact details so they can reach out to you offline.
• Use AI tools to quickly create responses. Make sure to edit them for tone and language.

Let your restaurant reviews thrive with SurveySparrow

One sureshot way to grow reviews is to follow the best practices that we listed above. But it can be hard to manage feedback from dozens of review sites.

In that case, let our AI-powered reputation management tool be your wingman.

With SurveySparrow, restaurants can:

• View customer reviews from 100+ platforms along with their underlying sentiment.
• Monitor and respond to reviews from a single dashboard.
• Set alerts for particular types of incoming reviews. For eg., Yelp reviews with a 1 star rating.
• Write professional responses with the Wings AI.
• Embed great reviews as a widget on the website.
• Export the data as a CSV for further analysis.