There is almost nothing more nerve-wracking for a restauranteur than the arrival of a reviewer. Immediately, you know that your establishment is about to be graded on every aspect of service. For those whose restaurant caters to an upscale clientele, it is hard to deny that reviews can make or break you. A study done at the University of Berkeley found that even a half-star in a Yelp rating can make a big difference in business volume. According to these numbers, the difference can be as great as 49%.
The first thing you should do is put a few of your employees on a deep cleaning detail. While a food critic will normally concentrate on the food, they will also look at the general cleanliness of the restaurant. The last thing you want is to be brought down by a dirty corner that someone neglected to clean. Make sure you inspect the premises yourself instead of delegating the job to someone else.
It is also a good idea to make sure that you are using only the freshest of ingredients on the day of the review. Whether it’s meat, vegetables, or just about anything else, freshness can make a significant difference in the taste quality of your food. When you are trying to put your best foot forward, a small thing like this can make a big difference.
If you have sufficient time, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have your establishment freshly sprayed for bugs and checked for rodents. Chances are, you already run a clean establishment, but let’s not forget the importance of Murphy’s law. For those who haven’t heard of this unwritten law, it says “anything that can go wrong will go long”. The saying may not be literally true, but it does reflect the need to expect problems so that you can be prepared to deal with them. All it takes is one little cockroach skittering across the floor at the wrong time, and you could end up being judged as a filthy, roach-infested dump. This can happen even if you produce a quality product and provide excellent service because no one wants to eat dirty food regardless of anything.
Service is also a key factor. Just as one little bug can ruin the whole show, so too can one rude or unresponsive employee. Make sure that your servers are given ample notice of the impending review, and that they know to ramp the courtesy up a notch or two. You also want to tell your manager to put the best server on the reviewer’s table. This may seem obvious, but you don’t want to take a chance that a floor manager might put the new guy or the problem employee on this particular table.
If you really want to make a strong impression, consider hiring some entertainment. It might be a band, a stage magician, or anything else that will add to the atmosphere. Naturally, the entertainment should fit the general theme of your restaurant. For instance, you don’t want a mariachi band in an Italian restaurant because it just doesn’t fit.
If you are fortunate enough to have adequate warning before a reviewer comes in, you might consider bringing in a special chef. There are a lot of excellent chefs who would be happy to come in for a day or two and help your business to run at its’ highest level of excellence. I would personally recommend the services of William Bronchick. If you haven’t heard of him, William Bronchick is an eclectic expert chef and caterer who produces unique and interesting dishes that are sure to please.
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