Nearly 94 percent of customers in the US nowadays are influenced by internet reviews, particularly when searching for a new restaurant to try. The percentages are also reasonably high in other nations, with diners from France, Spain, and Italy totaling 90, 91, and 93 percent, respectively.
Restaurant review sites provide tools for potential consumers to assess social proof while assisting them in choosing where to dine, when, and for exactly what sort of occasion. The Internet has become a forum for public opinion, so if you aren’t already taking the review sites seriously, now is the time to start learning what your consumers think.
There are plenty of review websites available on the Internet. That’s why we have consolidated a list of a few that may get you precisely the information you want!!!
Reasons Why Customers Visit Restaurant Review Sites
1. Food Information
Customers visit restaurants to explore the menu items. Similarly, customers read online restaurant reviews to see how the food is. Customers are interested in learning exactly what items are the greatest sellers.
Additionally, they want to know how the prices are; customers may choose to buy a product based on its price in various circumstances.
Also, there may be hidden menus available at some establishments. This is a tactic used by restaurants to increase the engagement of their online presence. There is no way to know when you are dining in about the items on a hidden menu because they are not on their regular menu. In other words, you’ll only learn about it if you read restaurant review websites.
2. Design And Ambience
Many times, a customer’s decision to visit a restaurant may be influenced by the appearance and ambiance of the establishment.
For instance, many new and modern cafes have cozy decor that gives off a calm and soothing vibe. Customers spend a few hours at this café enjoying a fantastic cup of coffee and a serene ambiance.
3. Customer Service Information
Customers may read reviews for a variety of reasons besides food. They may wish to research the restaurant’s customer service policies.
A restaurant that prioritizes customer pleasure and service will undoubtedly attract many first and repeat guests.
Why Restaurants Need To List In Restaurant Review Sites
The food and beverage business is rampant with the competition. New eateries appear out of nowhere, just like weeds grow in a garden. That is why every option must be fully utilized if you wish to be successful.
Restaurants with listings on restaurant review websites may reach more people and give users more information. Once a person sees positive restaurant evaluations about your establishment, they may become a prospective client even if they were previously unfamiliar with your establishment.
The vast number of restaurant review sites’ customers is another reason your business should appear on them. Just consider that even converting a portion of them can be highly beneficial for your business.
Let’s use Instagram as an illustration. If only 1% of your city’s 5 million Instagram members convert to customers. That is still 500,000 new potential clients.
Restaurant Review Sites You Should Have Presence Over
1. ReviewFoxy
ReviewFoxy is a B2C review website where restaurants can claim there listings. And the best part, ReviewFoxy is completely free and does not provide any paid priority placements.
So it means, your business can shine amongst all others based on metrics of reviews you collect from your customers.
Most importantly, ReviewFoxy has a very strong support team that will help you maneuver through negative reviews and other technical glitches smoothly.
2. Restaurantica
Customers may contribute listings to Restaurantica, which restaurant owners can then claim. They can change their information and communicate with other site users after claiming their business.
Choice of up to three cuisines, business hours, pricing range, acceptance of bookings, the addition of images, link to the restaurant’s website, etc., are all the options that this website provides for a restaurant.
Owners and managers may connect with consumers before or after a visit using the messaging system, comment on reviews, and then provide incentives to encourage repeat business. Various choices are available for the advertising needs of the company.
3. OpenTable
OpenTable is a one of the best restaurant review sites that enables users to book reservations online while providing user feedback.
OpenTable charges establishments monthly and pre-reservation fees for the usage of the site when making online bookings. For inclusion in the directory, restaurants must register with the service. Restaurants that subscribers have access to a management site where they may alter floor plans, allocate tables, and gather client data for more individualized service.
All reviews have a “Contact Author” option that allows restaurant owners to send the reviewer a private message as they are not permitted to reply to customer feedback publicly.
The website also provides eateries with paid and unpaid advertising opportunities, which they can use for the marketing and publicity of their establishment.
4. Dine.com
One of the oldest restaurant review sites on this list is dine.com. Like the others, it includes user ratings and reviews and provides members tailored suggestions based on their cuisine interests.
Restaurant owners who claim their listing get access to a personalized URL for their business, online menu creation, photo albums, and thorough descriptions. Additionally, they can post remarks and receive direct client feedback.
The only disadvantage of this website is the lacking of a method of verifying the stated listing’s legitimacy, such as a phone number or direct mail. Anyone can assert ownership; the only verification form is an email containing a confirmation link.
5. Zagat
Zagat is one of the most popular and reliable restaurant review sites. It compiles the top eateries from more than 18 significant cities worldwide.
Zagat, which Google purchased in 2011, is integrated into Google+ Local. To claim their listing, restaurant owners must utilize Google My Business. By doing this, they may change their company’s details, such as its address, menu, operating hours, and phone number on the website.
For all menus, Zagat utilizes a partner website called SinglePlatform. A menu addition or change request can be made by email by business owners.
Zagat employs a surveying approach to obtain ratings that start with local editors compiling a list of prominent eateries within a city. After the listings are added, the Customers can vote on the locations they visit.
Customers are asked to assess businesses based on features like the cuisine, the interior design, and the service. After that, ratings are aggregated and presented on a customized 30-point scale.
6. Urbanspoon
Customers may add their favorite restaurants to Urbanspoon’s directory. This website is one of the more well-known review sites dedicated to the eating sector.
By selecting the “Is, this your restaurant?” option in the top-right corner of the page, restaurant owners and managers may claim control of their listing. If a restaurant isn’t already included in the directory, it can add its information. Although before adding new listings to the site, Urbanspoon calls to verify their validity and examines each individually.
Urbanspoon only allows restaurants to update their contact information, reply publicly or privately to user reviews, and observe voting patterns for their establishment.
Owners are not allowed to alter or remove reviews. However, they may contact Urbanspoon to have those that do not adhere to their rules removed.
7. Gayot
Gayot is a reputable resource for information about food, lodging, travel, and leisure. It includes ratings and evaluations of neighborhood eateries that have been published by both restaurant guests and professional food critics.
Gayot rates restaurants on a specific 20-point scale and observes the atmosphere, staff, wine, and décor. However, the restaurant proprietors aren’t allowed to claim their listings for their establishments. To attract more attention, they might include advertisements on the website.
8. MenuPages
Customers may download restaurant menus from MenuPages or see them online, although this website is only available in a few places, including New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Users may review and rate restaurants, just as on the other sites. However, owners don’t seem to have a method to react. Owners can, however, advertise on the website and post or alter menus.
How Delivery Apps Have Impacted Restaurant Reviews
Nowadays, many food delivery websites and apps use their restaurant review setup.
Earlier, someone writing a restaurant review would have skipped other options and gone straight to Yelp or Google. However, as more people utilize delivery apps to get their food, more consumers will directly leave feedback on these applications.
Additionally, apps highlight the most well-liked menu items and provide user rankings. This inspires prospective buyers to order more items that past clients have given excellent ratings.
1. UberEats
The app’s user interface displays the top categories and most well-liked eateries nearby. UberEats offers a relatively short user review and feedback mechanism, which is rare for such a popular meal delivery app.
Customers are encouraged to rate their delivery on the app after receiving it, with a maximum of 5 stars. Then, if they so desire, they may add a remark. In the search results, these star ratings are then shown next to restaurant names. However, the reviews are not visible to the general public on the restaurant listing.
The Reviews Section on the app’s backend allows business owners to access all of their customer reviews and comments. UberEats tracks whether a consumer is new or returning, as well as the number of orders they have placed.
2. DoorDash
The quickest delivery restaurants can be found with a short search on this app. Users may select options based on convenience in addition to cuisines and food categories. Customers are invited to provide star ratings, from which DoorDash averages them and presents them in the listing for the restaurant.
However, customer reviews are kept private for the restaurant and not made public. Customers get an automated email outlining the response, and the managers get to explain their gratitude or opinion in those emails. Customers are not allowed to reply to this email at any point.
3. Grubhub
Grubhub is a food delivery service that links customers with nearby eateries through its website and mobile app. Grubhub has over 31 million active users. This has solidified its place as one of the best sites for food delivery worldwide.
On this website, within 14 days of the review’s publication, business owners get the chance to respond to it. Also, they get the facility to notify Grubhub of any reviews that include offensive or false information.
4. Caviar
The upscale food delivery service Caviar, which DoorDash owns, is renowned for providing shorter delivery times from a hand-picked selection of the best nearby eateries.
Caviar is on the upscale end of the meal delivery market with a fixed delivery price. Caviar offers users their staff recommendations while staying true to its curation philosophy.
Caviar does not display user opinions or ratings on the app or website. Although, the most well-liked meals from each restaurant are explicitly shown.
Final Thoughts
When do individuals post reviews, and why? Thirty-three percent of customers posted reviews when the experience was either extraordinarily good or awful. Another 25% of respondents said they only submit evaluations for genuinely excellent service.
According to the findings of a recent survey, 67 percent of individuals claim internet reviews influence their shopping decisions. Additionally, more than half of the respondents stated that internet reviews play a crucial role in their decision-making.
These statistics indicate that people are reading your positive and negative evaluations. And for this reason, it’s crucial to keep an eye on your reviews and reply to them on an urgent basis.
It will help if you strive to achieve positive reviews to attract your potential customers and target audience. But it is impossible to get all positive reviews, so if you get a negative review, work towards transforming it into a favorable one. Demonstrating your regard for and appreciation for your customers can transform a poor review into a positive one. This gives people looking for reviews a good impression of your restaurant and may encourage them to visit.
Finally, make an effort to monitor internet reviews of your business. Examine the review websites and register for Google Alerts to ensure you are aware of any internet mentions of your business so that you can always stay on top of the game.
These were all our thoughts on the best restaurant review sites. Let us know which are your favorite sites in the comments below. We are all ears!
