This Is the Best Way to Write a Memorable Restaurant Review

A great restaurant review can point you toward your new favorite spot—or help you avoid a dining disaster. Review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor have an abundance of restaurant reviews to browse, but if you spend any time on these sites you’ll notice not all reviews are helpful.

Some reviews are positive, but are so vague that you question their legitimacy. Some might have helpful information, but are so poorly written they’re unintelligible. And other submissions read more like a personal rant than a restaurant review.

Think you’re ready to share your own two cents? Don’t let your review fade into the background of mediocrity! In today’s post we’re sharing how to write a restaurant review that’s captivating, memorable, and useful for your fellow diners.

Here’s How to Structure a Memorable Restaurant Review

1Set the Stage

Let readers know immediately that the review contains useful information and is worth reading. Open the review with an enticing line that promises an interesting payoff (whether delicious or dreadful).

Next, share some context. Why did you decide to try this particular restaurant? What time of day did you go? What size was your party? How did the waitstaff treat you? What was the ambiance like?

It may look like your average neighborhood pizza joint, but Acme Pizza is anything but!

I wandered in with two friends on a Friday night, and was immediately greeted by the friendly staff and incredible aroma of baking pizza. The restaurant was filling up quickly (it was almost 7:00 pm) but we managed to snag a table.

2Deliver the Main Course

How was the food? If a dish was “great,” be sure to describe why. What were the flavors, textures, and appearance like? Carefully select a few punchy adjectives for your descriptions—too few will leave your writing bland, too many will bog it down.

We ordered the garlic knots and two medium pies to share: the XX (pesto, artichoke, red onion, bacon, feta, mozzarella) and the XY (marinara, pepperoni, Italian sausage, mozzarella).

The garlic knots were little bombs of buttery, yeasty goodness, and the garlic was robust but not overpowering. When our pizzas arrived, our expectations continued to be exceeded.

The crust was crisp, flavorful, and chewy. The toppings worked together beautifully. The marinara and pesto were packed with flavor, and the mozarella had a great consistency and very little oil. By the end of the meal we were planning our next visit.

3Wrap Up the Takeaway

End with a punchy summary of why you think other diners should (or shouldn’t) visit the restaurant.

Don’t let appearances fool you—the decor may be divey, but the pies are fantastic. This place is perfect for groups or a casual date night.

5 Essential Tips for Writing a Memorable Restaurant Review

Now that you know the basics, follow these tips to ensure your reviews are always captivating!

1Take Notes (and Pictures!)

To write a vibrant review, you’ll want to capture your thoughts and experiences while they’re still fresh. Use your smartphone or notebook during the meal to jot down highlights and subtler details (e.g., the wait staff was welcoming and attentive, you enjoyed the agricole rum in your cocktail, the tiramisu was soggy and disappointing).

Happy November 8th AKA Cook Something Bold Day. �� by @slite_eats- homemade �� inspired by #difara pies. Cooking something bold today? Tweet and tag us! #difarapizza #difara #gordonramsay pic.twitter.com/18dQJp70L1

— Di Fara Pizza (@difara) November 8, 2017

2Get Specific

Avoid vague words and phrases like “The service was bad” or “The pie was great.” Instead, provide specific details like, “The server was friendly but inexperienced and botched our drink order” or “The lemon meringue pie had a wonderfully flaky crust, a tart and tangy filling, and dreamy melt-in-your-mouth meringue.”

3Be Fair

If you’ve visited a restaurant several times and only once had a bad experience, be sure to note this in your review. Everyone has an off night now and again.

. . .Also, if you love Korean cuisine and decide to try out the new Mexican-Korean fusion grill, please don’t write a review complaining how the bulgogi isn’t authentic enough.

4Don’t Rant

Parking was an ordeal, you suffered through a long wait for your table, then endured a careless server and over-priced, disappointing food.

Writing a one-star Yelp review about “THE WORST PLACE EVER” may feel cathartic in the moment, but vague, emotion-laden reviews don’t carry much weight.  

Instead, describe the specific details of why your experience was sub-par. This will help other diners make an informed decision on whether they should give the restaurant a chance—or a hard pass.

5Remember to Proofread

Want folks to take your review seriously? Be sure your spelling and grammar are on point. A review riddled with errors is likely to be written off, ignored, or even misunderstood.

Ensure you’re communicating clearly and professionally by using the Grammarly browser plug-in on your non-mobile devices, or download Grammarly’s mobile keyboard (iPhone; Android) when using Yelp, TripAdvisor, or other mobile apps.

When to Use Of vs. Off?

• Of is a preposition that indicates relationships between other words, such as belonging, things made of other things, things that contain other things, or a point of reckoning.
• Off is usually used as an adverb or a preposition. In both cases, it indicates separation or disconnection.

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Mixing them up is always a mistake, but of and off are commonly confused nonetheless. Below, we’ve listed some common situations where you want to use of and some where off is the correct choice.

When to Use Of

We use of when we want to show that people or things relate to other things or people. For example, when we want to say that something or someone belongs to or is a part of something or someone else, we can do it like this:

Tiffany stared at the floor of her room.

He resigned his position as a member of the school board.

We can also use of to say that something consists of something else, or that it contains something else:

He picked up a piece of wood.

She likes to drink a glass of milk before going to bed.

When we want to give a position in space or time, we might use of to link the position with a reference we already know:

He didn’t feel at home north of the Wall.

At the time of the Viking raids, people spoke a very different kind of English.

Of could be used when we create a noun phrase from a verb phrase:

They had to clean up the house before their parents arrived.

They had to clean up the house before the arrival of their parents..

When to Use Off

Off is the opposite of on:

The radio was on, but she needed peace and quiet so she turned it off.

You should always make sure the stove is turned off before leaving the house.

Off can also be used when we want to say that something is away from a place:

He was walking his dog without a leash, and the dog ran off.

After walking Taylor home, Steve set off into the city.

We can use off when we want to say that something has been removed:

He cleaned the spilled soup off the kitchen floor.

They took the wheel off the car.

Examples

My favourite film of 2016 was the spine-tingling British production Under the Shadow from Iran-born, London-based writer/director Babak Anvari.

The Guardian

Can the Guardians battle the bad guys while still keeping their band of ne’er-do-wells together?

Wired

The Briton could only win the title if Rosberg finished off the podium.

Reuters

Sony and its partners showed off a bunch of games at yesterday’s PSX Keynote event.

Forbes

For All Intents and Purposes—How to Use It

• “For all intents and purposes” means “in effect.”
• Don’t confuse this expression with the eggcorn “for all intensive purposes.”

If you conduct business, you have probably run across the phrase “for all intents and purposes.” What does this expression mean? Understanding the sense of the words will help you avoid a common but costly mistake.

The Bits and Pieces of Intents and Purposes

The first step is to understand the key elements of the phrase. An intent is a purpose, meaning, or design. A purpose is a reason that something exists or is done, the intended result of something, or the point at issue.

The Origin

The phrase “to all intents, constructions, and purposes” dates from sixteenth-century English law. Later, the shortened “for (or to) all intents and purposes” became more popular than the original phrase. It means “in every practical sense” or “virtually.” Even back then, lawyers liked to cover all their bases! An idiom is an expression whose meaning doesn’t correspond wholly or literally to the meaning of its individual words, or that doesn’t follow the usual grammatical conventions of a language. “For all intents and purposes” is idiomatic; the all doesn’t always include every intent or purpose. In short, it can mean “for all functional purposes, in effect.”

How to Use It

Let’s turn to journalism to discern how to use this phrase. Here are some quotes from around the web. Notice how the writer uses the idiom to mean “virtually” or “in effect.”

The weekend is, for all intents and purposes, an East Coast championship for drone pilots hoping to qualify for the U.S. National Drone Racing Championships, set for Aug. 5-7 in New York City. ―The Roanoke Times

“Our concern is we’ve got the trail essentially completed,” Sales said. “For all intents and purposes, it looks like the trail is open.” ―Napa Valley Register

With the roof up, the Targa feels to all intents and purposes like a 911 coupe. ―The Telegraph

The Wrong Way to Write It

If you intend to convey the sense of “in effect,” you don’t want to make the error of writing “for all intensive purposes.” This phrase is an eggcorn, a misheard or misunderstood phrase that an interlocutor transforms into a new word or phrase. (The name eggcorn comes from the tendency for some people to mishear the word acorn as eggcorn). So, “for intensive purposes” probably developed when someone misheard the similar-sounding “for all intents and purposes.” Intensive means thorough, vigorous, or concentrated. It’s evident from the context that most instances of “intensive purposes” should have been “intents and purposes.” Consider an example:

Since taking the new coaching position over a month ago, UNLV’s Marvin Menzies has been working fast and furious to broaden the depth of the trimmed down roster that he inherited during a chaotic post season in Vegas. For all intensive purposes, and considering the dire situation, the Rebel roster has certainly filled out with needed difference makers added every few weeks. ― MWConnection.com

If you make that mistake, it can distract your readers from your real message. If you remember what “for all intents and purposes” means, you should be able to use it correctly. If in doubt, you can always use a synonym like “in effect” or “virtually.”

How to Take a Break Without Breaking Focus

We all procrastinate from time to time and struggle to get things done. For years, much of the dialogue around procrastination has been about how to fight it and, theoretically, win. However, that approach has left a whole lot of us—included me—feeling pretty pathetic when we just can’t kick the habit. Turns out, we’ve been duped. For the last several years, experts have made headway in transforming procrastination from an evil that must be vanquished to a tool worth embracing in all its paradoxical and oxymoronic glory.

Let me introduce you to productive procrastination.

I almost giggle when I say it because it feels like I’m getting away with something very bad. However, when you learn a bit and start to incorporate productive procrastination into your life, it’s far from naughty—it’s so nice. Procrastination done right can help you clarify your goals, remove unnecessary tasks, and be more creative. But you can go beyond that. Here are a few indulgent ways you can get more (productive) procrastination into your life.

1 Become an active procrastinator.

The secret of my incredible energy and efficiency in getting work done is a simple one. The psychological principle is this: anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.

—Robert Benchley

The main idea here is that you learn to pit your tasks against each other so that in procrastinating on one, you actually accomplish a lot of others. This can mean structuring to do lists so that your bigger, more vague tasks are at the top, but the actual work you need to do that day is somewhere lower down. Or just allow yourself to do something else as long as that something else isn’t binge-watching Netflix/scrolling through Facebook/pick your poison.

2 Try the “Nothing Alternative.”

Roy F. Baumeister, a social psychologist, coined the term “Nothing Alternative” to describe a strategy where you are given the choice between boredom and actually working on what you need to work on. The New York Times demonstrates the effectiveness of the method with the example of writer Raymond Chandler, who forced himself to write for hours a day by following two rules:

1. You don’t have to write.
2. You can’t do anything else.

Judging by Chandler’s output, it seems you’ll get a lot done just to avoid boredom.

3 Get organized.

Lifehack put together a pretty good list of things to procrastinate with, but one item on their list deserves special attention—organization. In all its forms, organization can be simple and makes life easier. There’s also a short feedback loop so you feel good about what you’ve accomplished. (Flow, anyone?) The best part is that organization can be for the task you actually need to do, and it doesn’t need to be particularly coherent (yet). For example, organizing your desk before writing or creating a blog to-do list—rather than writing the blog—can move you in the right direction but scratch your procrastination itch.

So, let go of some of the guilt and embrace active, productive procrastination as a way to get more done.

Are you a procrastinator? What are some ways that you “productively procrastinate”?

5 Tips On How to Choose Your Blog Name

Guest post by Yohana Petrovic

So, you’ve decided to start your own blog! But before you can start writing and engaging with your readers, there is one hurdle that you have to jump: giving your blog a name. Choosing the best title for your blog is a very tricky thing.

Your blog’s name is its first claim to fame. As a starting blogger, your blog’s name is the make-or-break, the read or no-read, the click or no-click. It needs to be intriguing enough to compel an average browser to visit and start reading your posts.

To help you out, here are five tips on how you can come up with an attention-grabbing, click-begetting, and follower-attracting blog title:

 

1. What is your blog about?

Your blog name has two jobs. The first is to catch the reader’s attention, and the second is to tell your readers what they are in for when they visit your blog. Take note that it is an and situation and not an either/or situation. Your blog name should be able to do both of these jobs. If your blog is about cooking, then your blog title shouldn’t sound like it’s about shopping.

Next steps: Think about what your blog is going to be about. Will it be a travel blog? Are you going to talk about your carpentry projects? Will you be showing your readers different sewing techniques? Will you be cooking a different recipe every day? Will your blog be about your normal daily life? Once you’re clear on what your blog will be about, then you’re halfway to coming up with your blog name.

 

2. Make the Thesaurus your best friend

Wordplay is such a wonderful thing. You can use fancy words to describe simple concepts, or even make up your own words by splitting and condensing two or three words together. Sure, you can use generic and well-known words in your blog name, but it’s either already being done or it’s boring. Besides, where is the fun in naming a blog about solo traveling “The Solo Traveler?”

Next steps: Once you’ve determined what your blog is about, you can start listing all the words associated to it. Grab your Thesaurus (or, you know, Google synonyms) and try playing around with how certain relevant words sound together.

 

3. Decide on the tone of your blog

Tone is important; it is how you will “talk” in your blog. Your tone will determine what kind audience you will attract. This is why it is important to consider your blog’s tone when coming up with your blog name. For example, you would expect a blog entitled “The Fat Kid Inside” to be fun and informal. You wouldn’t expect the same from a blog with the title “Employee Incentives News.”

Next steps:  Consider how you talk. Is that how you’re planning to write on your blog? Consider your target audience. Are they the type who would appreciate a formal tone or an informal tone? Your blog title should reflect your tone to avoid confusion.

 

4. Research other blogs

Whatever blog you are thinking about starting, there is another one (or two or three or one hundred) that has already been published with a similar theme or topic. Embark on blog title market research. Remember, it is always good practice to learn more about what your potential audience finds relatable so you can name your blog accordingly.

Next steps: Check out blogs that are similar to what you want to do. Categorize them as successful or unsuccessful based on readership or followers. Then, compare the titles of the successful blogs versus the unsuccessful blogs. Try to see if there are similar aspects in the groups. Add the successful elements to your blog title and avoid the unsuccessful ones.

 

5. Memorability is a huge factor

Your blog name can be formal, informal, witty, funny, literary, or whatever you want it to be. The bottom line is that it should be memorable. You may have the wittiest, most beautiful blog title but if it is too complicated, or the letters don’t quite look right when placed together in a URL, then you are going to have a problem.

Next steps:  Once you have (semi-) decided on your blog name, write it together in small letters. Try to see if there are undesirable, shady, or unrelated words that would leap up when they are placed in a URL. You might need the help of someone else who is not involved in your creation process.

 

Best of luck! Share your favorite blog titles in the comments.

 

About the Author

Yohana Petrovic is a writer and blogger. She has 10 years of experience in education, and now she is a proofreader at http://globalessays.org. You can reach her on Facebook: Yohana Petrovic or on Twitter: @YohanaPetrovic

International English: Going beyond U.K. and U.S. English

Guest post by Rosevita Warda

“The status of English as an international language is long established and, for the foreseeable future, unlikely to be greatly challenged. However, I believe that to make it genuinely international, then one step in that direction could be to consider the influence of non-native speakers in a different light.

“Generally, their non-occurrent uses are labeled errors and they are encouraged to change to conform to the standard English model, even though many native speakers don’t. I’ve heard the question ‘what means’ so many times now that I have decided to accept it as correct without question. I also can’t feel too strongly about ‘depends of’ being used by so many European and other speakers.

“Allowing a greater influence from outside will probably annoy the pedants, but it would be much more of an international language if it were able to absorb more such forms and allow them to coexist alongside the forms preferred by native speakers.”

— International English: Interesting blog post by Richard Flynn of UsingEnglish.com fame

International English Is Our Reality

As the creators of the first multimedia learners’ dictionary committed to International English, we’re delighted to hear more and more people vote in favor of acknowledging International English. English has never been a restrictive or exclusive language, which is the very reason why it became the language media of choice for the people of this world.

Today, there are more Indian, Pakistani, Filipino or Nigerian English speakers than those living in the U.K. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_English-speaking_population). Many of them are not native speakers, but contribute to the largest population of English speakers: Those who learn English as a foreign language. People who speak English as their non-native language are by far the largest English-speaking group today (http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-faq-the-english-language.htm).

Limiting the English language with traditional labels and doctrines and focusing on U.K. vs. U.S. English exclusively creates dissonance with this reality. We live in a world where English is growing into a colorful family of English variants. Since it’s the first time in history that a language spreads across the globe in such a powerful fashion and at such speed, change in our attitudes and how we perceive this language is inevitable.

Rules imposed by local traditions or doctrines broadcast from ivory towers will soon fade, and they already do.

Is International English a sign of a decline of the English language? Only, we believe, if your definition of English is narrow and retrospect.

Being the global language of choice is a compliment to the English language. It has always been a language that embraces new ideas and terminology. Instead of seeing this as a threat, it’s time to cherish International English for its colors, nuances, and flavors, and to acknowledge that language is alive. Language is in its essence shaped and advanced by the people who communicate in it.

About the Author

Rosevita Warda is president of LearnThat Foundation and manages www.LearnThatWord.org, a free online vocabulary and spelling coaching solution. Get 10 percent off premium features by entering “grammarly” into the “How did you hear about us” field.

Join Vocabulary Junction, LearnThat Foundation’s literacy campaign, by following updates on Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn.