Life is too short for a bad meal, but telling apart a great restaurant from a mediocre one isn’t always easy. When Redditor u/halfblood_god asked, “What are some green flags in restaurants?” they got a treasure trove of advice from food enthusiasts.
Here are 15 green flags that might help you identify if a restaurant really lives up to the hype.
1. A busy Monday night means the food is worth it
“Green flag: if it’s busy on a Monday night, the quietest night of the week to eat out.” —u/Jarek86
If a place is packed on a Monday, you know it’s a good sign! No one would eat out on a Monday if the food isn’t worth it. Makes you want to check it out yourself!
2. Go beyond tourist spots for authentic flavors
“When it comes to finding great food while abroad, go where English is spoken less. In Rome, instead of eating next to the tourist spots (Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, etc.), we’d walk a few blocks away to where people stopped speaking English. It took us a few days to figure it out, but now, we do this in any destination we’re visiting. The food was always so much better beyond the touristy areas.” —u/henry_120100
Yep! Straying a bit from tourist spots usually leads to tastier, more authentic food. That’s your secret food hack for your next trip!
3. Simpler menus often lead to better sushi
“When it comes to Japanese restaurants, so many places have huge extensive menus. But IMO, the simpler the sushi, the better it’s going to taste. The place up the block where they only serve very basic rolls has some of the best sushi I’ve ever tried.” —u/TheSinningRobot
Simplicity is key, especially with sushi. When a place sticks to the basics and nails them, you’re in for a treat!
4. Staff eating the food is a great sign
“If you see the restaurant staff eating the food, especially bits of leftovers during service. Take it from a career chef. We see and make the same food day in and day out. If the staff are still excited to eat it, that’s always a great sign.” —u/PhabioRants
When the people making the food are still excited to eat it, you know it’s gotta be good. Who knows the menu better than the staff?
5. A yell across the kitchen signals great food
“If you order your food and the person serving you up yells at the chef in their native language, you know the food is going to be good. I’m Indian, and this is the trick I use to differentiate between good Indian restaurants and bad ones.” —u/SurrealAprilFeels
A shout from the server to the chef? It’s a sign of passion and energy in the kitchen — definitely good vibes for your meal!
6. Happy diners are a sure indicator
“When I walk into a restaurant, I usually do a quick scan of the tables that are finishing up their meals. If they’re smiling, not talking because they’re too busy eating most of their plates, and seem to be enjoying themselves, I’ll take it as a sign that the restaurant was a good choice.” —Hannah Loewentheil
Happy diners deep in their food and not their phones? That’s your cue — it’s probably a great spot!
7. A clean bathroom means a clean kitchen
“A clean menu and table. And also a tidy bathroom. I go to wash my hands before I order because a reasonably clean bathroom probably means a reasonably clean kitchen.” —u/GunNutsLoveDeadKids
We all know the bathroom trick! If they care about cleanliness there, they probably do in the kitchen too. It’s all connected!
8. Thoughtful recommendations from the staff
“I particularly love a restaurant when I ask my server for his or her opinion and get a thoughtful, sincere answer that shows they really know the food.” —u/MCDexX
A server who really knows their stuff and gives a genuine recommendation? You’re about to have a great dining experience.
9. A focused, one-page menu means expert cooks
“If a restaurant has a focused, one-page menu, that’s usually a pretty good sign. It means their line cooks have become specialists and can usually nail all the dishes listed. Conversely, if a restaurant has a giant, multi-page menu, that’s a gigantic red flag.” —u/fancyfrenchtoilet
A one-page menu is like a signature move — it shows the chefs are experts in their craft. Less is more, right?
10. Native diners signal authentic cuisine
“If you walk into a restaurant that serves food from a different country and most people in there — both working and dining — are from that country, in my experience that means you’re about to have an awesome meal.” —u/Ok_Whatever_Buddy
When the restaurant is packed with people from the country whose food it serves, you know you’re in the right place for an authentic food experience!
11. Staff knows their seafood origins
“If the waitstaff knows where their seafood comes from. Ask where the oysters come from. If they know, that’s a great sign. If they don’t know, you don’t want them.” —u/heroesforsale
If the staff can tell you exactly where that seafood came from, it’s a good sign. They care, and that’s what you want to hear!
12. A restaurant with limited days open is often worth the wait
“If a restaurant closes two days a week. It’s very rare for restaurant staff to have regular days off and a sense of routine.” —u/notableapeman
When a restaurant has limited hours, it’s usually a sign they’re focusing on quality. The wait will be worth it, promise!
13. When a restaurant chooses not to squeeze in more tables
“If a restaurant could squeeze in more seats and tables but has strategically chosen not to.” —u/Odd-Concentrate-6585
A restaurant that’s not trying to cram in as many tables as possible? That’s a place that cares about creating the right vibe for you.
14. Authenticity comes from simplicity
“The more run down a Chinese restaurant is in terms of appearance (for example, an old menu on the wall and not many tables) tends to be where you get the best food.” —u/Sharinganedo
A little bit of rundown charm usually means amazing food. The less flashy, the more authentic the experience!
15. Freshly baked bread sets the bar high
“If they bring out GOOD, freshly baked bread, that’s usually a solid sign of what else is to come.” —u/Hq3473
Good, warm bread right at the start? That’s a sign of good things to come. Get ready for a great meal.
And there you have it — some of the best green flags to look out for next time you’re dining out. Keep these tips in mind, and you might just stumble upon your new favorite spot!
