Finding a good restaurant when you are on vacation is not always easy. Before entering or settling on the terrace, these clues should put you in the ear.
When traveling in France or abroad, testing the local gastronomy is one of the essential activities at lunch or dinner time. But then how to unearth the rare nugget without falling into a tourist trap? No need for a travel guide or to consult online reviews on your smartphone, all you need is a sense of observation.
A few clues in front of or as you approach the restaurant can give you a hint, without even having to pull out your smartphone to listen for the famous “reviews” of previous customers. Among these signs, three crucial clues should scare you away immediately:
- A menu that is too long and catch-all. Before entering the restaurant, study in detail the menu displayed at the entrance. A restaurant that offers local dishes but not only: pizzas, burgers, sushi, seafood… It’s frankly fishy. Who says quantity often says poor quality. Moreover, if the prices are very low, it is certainly because the quality is mediocre. If you want to eat a local dish, then head to a specialty restaurant that only offers 5 to 8 different dishes on its menu.
- Restaurant staff accosting customers on the street. While you are strolling in the street, the staff of the restaurant in front of which you are hesitant calls out to you and invites you to sit down? This practice undeniably indicates that you are located near a tourist trap address. A quality restaurateur doesn’t need to shout in the street that his food is good, he builds his reputation through word of mouth and his menu is updated regularly!
- The restaurant is located in a very touristy area.. Around a monument, on a large tourist square, in a famous avenue, the restaurateurs will not redouble their efforts to offer quality food because the geographical location ensures them a good filling, and what is more, the latter are often overworked. Even if there are exceptions, it is wiser to go a few meters away so as not to be ripped off, by taking parallel or adjacent streets, but above all less crowded… You can find good surprises and restaurants less focused on the occupancy rate of a huge but dearly paid terrace.
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