Executive Summary
This report outlines the anatomy of professional restaurant reviews and analyzes the rhetorical moves that make them a successful form of communication in this genre. Professional food writers use a balance of technical and creative skills to craft effective reviews that inform the readers and inspire them to act. The structure of an accomplished review includes an intriguing introduction, substantial and detailed body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. Additional important elements that strengthen this form of writing are style, tone, and formatting.
1. Introduction
Professional restaurant reviews are beneficial to both restaurant-goers and restaurateurs alike. The goal of a professional restaurant review is to provide an objective expert perspective on an establishment and to offer a detailed critique. This can serve as a valuable resource for diners looking for their next exciting dining experience. It can also assist restaurants in improving their offerings and understanding where they may need to modify or make changes. Public approval can make or break a business, playing a main role in whether a restaurant has a line out the door or whether those doors will eventually close, and restauranteurs understand this.
The elements that make a professional restaurant review successful can be determined through a rhetorical analysis. In the essay “Make Your ‘Move’: Writing in Genres,” Jacobson et al. explain how a rhetorical analysis is a helpful tool for recognizing patterns that meet the general expectations of a genre’s audience. Texts within a certain genre typically have conventions. These include “similar kinds of vocabulary and grammar, design features, content, and patterns for organizing their content” (Jacobson et al. 218). The following rhetorical analysis examines similarities among professional restaurant reviews and discusses how each piece of writing works within the genre conventions of the restaurant review. This report is based on two distinct restaurant reviews from reputable online news journals.
2. Identifying Common Moves of the Genre
The following section describes patterns found within examples of this field of professional writing. The two example restaurant reviews are referenced to draw connections and demonstrate the findings in practice.
2.1 Structure and Format
A professional restaurant review is traditionally structured as a chronological narrative. The reviewer usually begins with background information about the restaurant or any connection they have to the restaurant or its cuisine. Chronologically, reviews tend to start from the moment the reviewer walks through the door and continues through their departure. The end of the review is reserved for final thoughts and critiques. Pictures are typically included throughout the review to support the reviewer’s claims.
2.2 Research
It is standard for a reviewer to do research prior to visiting a restaurant in order to stay objective. Finding out how the restaurant markets itself to its target audience helps to determine its success in relation to its goals. Not all restaurants are the same, and they cater to a wide variety of audiences. Along with researching, reviewers will set evaluation criteria ahead of time. Understanding what exactly a reviewer is looking for beforehand allows them to focus on the significant parts of the experience and appear confident when talking to the staff. This is helpful later when writing the review.
2.3 Opening Paragraphs
Every great review starts with a descriptive and catchy title. This helps pique the reader’s attention. The opening sets the tone for the review, giving readers a brief introduction into the restaurant’s concept and the reviewer’s main takeaways. This should not go in-depth, but should provide enough information for the reader to decide if the review is relevant to them or not. Faiyaz Kara of Orlando Weekly writes reviews that blend creative and informative writing, right down to their titles. For example, one of his 2023 reviews kicks off with the catchy title, “Farm and Haus Cafe feeds Park Avenue’s early risers with a host of pre-noon pick-me-ups” (Kara). The name of the restaurant should always be included in the title, but this title also captures important details. Including “early risers” suggests that the target audience is breakfast and brunch diners, and the phrase “pre-noon pick-me-ups” indicates the type of cuisine offered (brunch dishes).
2.4 Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs of the review are the most detailed. This space includes all of the elements that were evaluated by the reviewer, including (but not limited to): food quality, service, design choices, value for money, and ambiance. That being said, reviewers still refrain from listing every single detail, and instead highlight the most important and memorable parts of their experience and expand on these aspects in particular. Providing direct examples from the experience is impactful and adds to the review’s credibility.
Despite whether the overall opinion is positive or negative, reviewers will include both pros and cons in the review. Addressing negative aspects of the experience gives the business an idea of what they can do better and can be essential in a reader’s decision to visit a restaurant. Cons are described in a respectful and appropriate manner, and many reviewers will choose to phrase their critiques as suggestions for areas of improvement.
The following subsections touch on some of the most common criteria assessed in a professional restaurant review: food quality, service, and ambiance.
2.4.1 Food Quality
Reviewers go into great detail about overall impressions of the food. Specific aspects might include flavors, textures, and presentation. The reviewer ought to expand beyond just using adjectives to describe the dishes and create a detailed visual for the reader. If possible, reviewers will talk to the chef or ask the server about how a dish was created, where its ingredients come from, or whether there is an interesting story behind it. Farm and Haus Cafe’s burger is described as “an 8-ounce, grass-fed patty from Lake Meadow, caramelized onions, lemon aioli, Little Gem lettuce, and a soft cow’s milk cheese they make in-house, all sandwiched into a brioche bun” (Kara). This description gives insight into what the item is comprised of while also adding small tidbits about what makes it unique. A reviewer will concentrate their efforts on writing about a few dishes but may still try a variety of items.
2.4.2 Service
Often, reviewers will talk about the staff and quality of service and mention personal interactions. They will typically go beyond just mentioning if the service was good or bad and also consider the disposition and appearance of the staff. Do the servers look happy? Are their uniforms neat and clean? Are they distracted or inattentive? These are all questions that a reviewer might take notes on. Reviewers will discuss all of the individuals working in the restaurant, as they contribute to the overall atmosphere. Service is a large part of the dining experience, and it can carry a lot of weight in a reader’s overall assessment of an establishment. Kara’s Farm and Haus Cafe review describes the staff as “noteworthy…they aren’t just delightfully competent, they know the menu inside and out, dropping recs as well as the names of local purveyors whose ingredients make up F&H’s dishes.” Potential diners will know what to expect of the staff during their visit and it may appeal to people who care about having a friendly and personable server.
2.4.3 Ambiance
Ambiance includes both the look and feel of the establishment. This encompasses interior and exterior design, aesthetics, cleanliness, music, and lighting. Though likely not the most significant factor for readers, it can set the restaurant apart from others and showcase what is unique and different about this specific establishment. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s Jon Palmer Claridge writes a review on Two Graces in St. Pete that claims, “the magical atmosphere matches the splendid cuisine.” He goes on to list some of the restaurant’s design choices, such as “an elegant beadboard ceiling”, “diaphanous drapery”, and “evocative lighting” (Claridge)
2.5 Closing Paragraphs
The closing paragraph(s) will serve as a summary of the overall experience and state the reviewer’s concise recommendation. The final line is a call to action, urging the reader to actually do something with what they have learned from the review. This is also typically the area to state official information about the restaurant, such as price range, address, operating hours, and contact details. Some reviews touch on additional criteria like if the atmosphere is family-friendly and suitable for children, or if it is more intimate and better for couples or adult groups. Kara closes his review by stating “if you were to ask me whether the restaurant will succeed on this über-competitive strip in Winter Park, I’d tell you the Lynes have nothing to worry about. And you can bet the farm and the haus on that.” This conclusion summarizes the reviewer’s positive opinion of the restaurant and uses a witty phrase, making it more memorable.
2.6 Style and Tone
Though restaurant reviewers must maintain a sense of professionalism in their writing, there is plenty of room for creativity. It is standard to write in complete sentences and follow proper grammar rules. However, most reviews follow an informal or semi-formal style and utilize clever and descriptive phrases to capture the attention of the reader. As with any piece of professional writing, a good reviewer is clear, fair, and honest, even when writing negatively. Providing constructive criticism rather than destructive criticism shows that the reviewer is professional and credible.
3. Conclusions and Recommendations
Writing a professional restaurant review requires a certain level of skillfulness to be considered successful. The review must meet a certain level of technicality to meet the high standards of the industry but must also be creative and interesting enough to persuade readers to engage. The rhetorical moves analyzed proved to be common across the referenced writing samples and multiple others that were evaluated, and these choices contribute to the implicit standards for this genre. Having the ability to write in this style is a beneficial skill for all writers, especially those within the journalism industry, regardless of the subject.