Have you ever considered how food critics can advocate for your restaurant’s brand value? If you haven’t yet, it’s time to add this strategy to your restaurant’s marketing arsenal soon.
Essentially, food critics write or report to various outlets like magazines, blogs, newspapers, etc., on food quality, food safety, staff service, restaurant management, etc. Their keen observation, food tasting, hygienic inspection, etc., can make or break your restaurant’s reputation.
To ensure you don’t take the wrong step, let’s tip you off with our five unmistakable ways to prepare your restaurant. These tips will enable you to get positive critic reviews, bring more customers, and even qualify for prestigious restaurant awards down the line.
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Be Ready: Establishment, Staff, and Food
Starting off, you must care about your restaurant’s physical state the most. From the entrance to the ambience, your establishment must look inviting to customers, including the critics.
Food bloggers or journalists may be invited beforehand, so you’ll have enough time to prepare. However, if a food safety expert drops by cloaked as a customer, your slightest mistakes can add up to negative reviews.
So, train your staff, clean your kitchen and dining area, and keep the food fresh and warm. And of course, don’t forget to share updated menus with the customers.
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Make a Win-Win Offer to the Critics
Most food bloggers or vloggers today want content for their social media accounts and YouTube or TikTok Channels. You can step in to fulfil their wish and get the selected individuals onboard to taste and review your restaurant’s service.
What you must be careful about when doing so is maintaining a professional decorum between you. Ask for an honest review from the critics on your ‘star’ dishes, online food ordering system, staff service, etc., in exchange for endorsing their reviews.
Make sure you don’t persuade them to write or share outright positive reviews. This may backfire while taking down your restaurant’s hard-earned goodwill. Constructive criticism can help you improve your service where needed.
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Attract Critics Through Customers
Your customers generate reviews on social media, websites, online forums, and through word of mouth. When you’re serving your customers right, you’re simply putting the words out in the market. This draws in food experts and critics to your establishment.
Additional steps like loyalty programs, live kitchens, customer cooking contests, etc., can spread your brand value within the locality and beyond. If you’re lucky enough, you may attract top judges of restaurant accolades, such as ARTA (Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards), and the like.
Don’t get upset if some customer reviews are negative. Try your best to turn an unhappy customer into a happy one with better services, especially where the problems were initially pointed out by the customer.
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Get the Buzzwords Out
It’s essential to get the social media and offline platforms buzzing with your iconic dishes. Mouthwatering dishes with powerful captions on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok can lure local customers and critics alike.
Apart from your regular highlight dishes, make something special that instantly makes the foodies go crazy. Be innovative in creating unique fusion dishes to showcase your culinary expertise.
Unique dishes and lucrative offers can make your restaurant stand apart from the competition while generating crushing reviews to make your brand value skyrocket.
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Attract Loyal Customers Via Email
One of the best ways to attract critics to your restaurant for maximum exposure is to turn to your loyal customer base. These are the people who uphold your business partially and stay with your brand through many ups and downs.
A standard way to attract loyal customers as critics or attract professional critics through them is via email or text messages. While it may sound too formal, loyal customers are more likely to write positive reviews after having a happy meal or great customer service from a restaurant.
So, don’t be shy to send away precise, short, and nice emails to your loyal customers while asking them to share their experience with your service on your social media pages and website.
End Note
You must invest in your restaurant’s positive exposure, happily shouldered by food critics, bloggers, journalists, etc., and shinily published on popular magazines, websites, and social media platforms.
If you’re focused on your restaurant’s maximum exposure in 2025, get ready to attract reliable critics by implementing the five unmistakable tips we’ve shared. Expect new customers, sales drive, and also, a highly likely chance to run for renowned restaurant awards contests.
