Warning Signs When Visiting A Restaurant
So, I've been to quite a few restaurants in my lifetime: my parents are foodies, I'm a culinary student, so it's almost an obligation. Some restaurants are better than others, but here's how to spot red flags in a restaurant that tell you maybe you shouldn't eat there.
1. ) An Empty Dining Room
Picture this: you walk into a restaurant, and there's not a soul sitting an eating. This is a common occurrence in restaurants who aren't doing well or are on the brink of closure. There's a reason no one's eating there, and there's probably a good reason for you not to eat there, too.
2.) A Hectic Dining Room Where No One's Eating
Kind of the opposite of point 1: there are people, but no food has been served. That means there's a backup, and they are not prepared to deal with the dinner rush. You won't be eating if you stick around, so go elsewhere.
3.) They Won't Let You See Their Kitchen/The Dining Room Isn't Sanitary
This is a little industry tip: If they have a closed kitchen and they're secretive about it (i.e they won't let you glance inside), then it means they're probably prepping food in unsanitary conditions. My chef taught me this one in school during Serve Safe, and I've used it since. Kitchens that are open to the dining room have become my favourite, since I can see what exactly is going on with my food.
To elaborate on the cleanliness thing, if you walk into the dining room and it's a pig sty (not sanitary, cobwebs, dirty dishes, staff moseying around like they have nothing better to do) then turn and walk out the door: that's how uncleanly they're willing to be in front of patrons: just imagine what kind of conditions they might be hiding.
4.) The Staff is Audibly Fighting
Picture this: you're waiting on your entree and you hear yelling coming from the kitchen. That sort of stuff is a red flag that you might be dealing with a staff that'll treat you poorly, and that your food will be delayed. A staff is supposed to be like a family: if they can't achieve that, they're bound for failure.
5.) The Seafood Smells like Poseidon's Cloaca/Is Clearly Spoiled
SEAFOOD IS NOT SUPPOSED TO SMELL FISHY: the fishy/ammonia smell is due to decomposition. Unless you're looking for a reason to miss work, get up and leave without eating.
This sort of thing goes for other types of food, too: if something seems to be amiss on your plate (like if there's mould, rotting, etc.) do not eat it and leave.
6.) The Bathroom Has No Hot Water/Clogged Toilet/Etc.
A kitchen, by regulations, has to close down temporarily if there's no hot water: that means things cannot be sanitised. If when you inform the wait staff of the issues and they don't react, get yourself out of there: they aren't following protocol.
7.) Chef Has Obliterated Everything With Pepper/Strong Tasting Seasoning
This one isn't so much health and safety oriented, rather speaks loudly to the competence of the chef. Chefs with super refined palates or sensitive palates will not go in for mountains of black pepper: to people like that, heavy seasoning like that can physically cause pain. If every dish that comes out of the kitchen is obliterated with pepper or other heavy tasting seasonings, it means the chef doesn't have that refined of a palate. More or less a preference thing.
BONUS: When Everything On The Menu Is An Enigma
Let's say the menu has a bunch of French words on it, but no explanation of what the Hell these things are. For safety reasons (mainly allergies), restaurants are supposed to list descriptions and allergens on their menus. You might not want to stick around there for a riveting game of allergy roulette, trust me.
Hopefully this helps with your future dining experiences, and I hope you eat something wonderful this week.
