Choosing a restaurant to eat in when you’re visiting an unfamiliar city can be challenging – there’s often an overwhelming amount of choice.
Of course, you’ll want to avoid any overpriced tourist traps that will charge you a small fortune for a less-than-spectacular meal.
So, don’t worry, because we’ve got five handy tips here to make sure you can always find a great place to eat when you’re on vacation.
From casino restaurants to family-friendly eateries, the perfect restaurant is out there; you just have to know how to find it!
So, read on to find out everything you need to know about choosing the best restaurant abroad.
Trust Your Friends, Not Reviews
Although TripAdvisor has hundreds of millions of reviews, you can’t always trust these reviews.
That’s because it’s easy to fake a review – many people who write reviews haven’t even been to the restaurant in question.
There was controversy about the platform recently when London’s top restaurant, according to TripAdvisor rankings, didn’t even exist!
Similarly, a homeless shelter in Glasgow, Scotland, climbed the rankings of hotels in the area. So, it’s clear to see the popular review platform isn’t without its flaws.
A better option is to ask a friend who’s been to the city you are visiting for their recommendations. If this isn’t possible, try asking a local instead.
The staff members working at the reception in your hotel are a great source of information and should be happy to oblige.
Avoid Restaurants Without Prices on the Menu
A sure sign that a restaurant is a tourist trap is a lack of prices on the menu.
If you find yourself presented with a menu without prices, it’s best to walk away straightaway.
Even if the friendly server promises you the two-course meal has a fixed price, there is a high chance that hidden extra fees will make their way onto your bill at the end of the meal.
We’ve all heard horror stories of tourists being charged astronomical amounts for a bottle of water or a simple meal – sadly, this is common practice in tourist hotspots.
So, if you can’t confirm the price of anything you wish to order, it’s best avoided.
On a similar note, if you are offered a fixed-price tourist deal, it’s likely to be made from cheap ingredients or frozen and reheated throughout the day.
So even if there aren’t any hidden charges, you could still end up paying more for a less-than-satisfactory meal.
Choose a Busy Restaurant
Although it might seem counter-intuitive to pick a bustling restaurant when you’re hungry, busyness is a sign that a restaurant is good!
An empty place is likely to be so for a good reason – if there are no or few diners at peak hours, this is a clear red flag.
On the other hand, a restaurant with queues out the door is clearly popular and highly likely to be serving dishes of excellent quality.
Don’t just look for crowds of tourists, though.
If you can see many local families enjoying a meal, you’re in luck!
Locals don’t eat at restaurants aimed at tourists, so a place that’s popular with residents must be serving delicious food at reasonable prices.
If you’re traveling with your family and the kids are too hungry to wait, you can always keep the restaurant in mind for another day.
Try making a booking or showing up earlier to make sure you can experience some fantastic local cuisine!
Head Away from Tourist Attractions
Although you may be visiting some popular tourist attractions by day, it’s best to head away from these areas at dinnertime.
While there may be a handful of excellent restaurants near the big attractions, the majority are likely to be overpriced tourist traps strategically positioned to draw in travelers who are weary after a day touring the city.
You’re unlikely to find locals dining in tourist hotspots, so take note and explore other areas of the city – you never know what hidden gems you might come across!
Restaurants that are popular with locals are more likely to be found nearer residential areas than opposite the city’s most famous tourist attraction.
Look for Menus in the Local Language
Although it might be challenging to order in a language you aren’t familiar with, a native-language menu is a sure sign of a great restaurant that isn’t aimed solely at tourists.
Conversely, any restaurant with menus in multiple languages, often poorly translated, is guaranteed to be catering to tourists and is best avoided if you are looking for an authentic, local dish.
If a restaurant has a menu in the local language hanging in the window, you’re onto a winner!
Places like this are likely to be popular with locals, so they are a great way to immerse yourself in the culture of the city you are visiting.
You might also find many of these restaurants offer daily specials based on seasonal produce rather than the same mass-produced dishes prepared to tourists’ tastes day after day.