How does this restaurant make you feel?

This involves all the little intangible elements that contribute to the overall ambiance. This category is not meant to objectively describe the physical space, rather impart the mood, character, and sensory elements that make up the vibe.

For example, a 1/10 would be neon lighting over plastic chairs and with disinterested staff; while a 10/10 would be an otherworldy experience that completely removes you from reality, and transports you into an experience you didn’t even know was possible.

What is the overall aesthetic appeal, functionality, and uniqueness of the restaurant?

This includes interior and exterior architecture, tableware, decor and furnishings, lighting, art, spatial layout, innovation, and comfort.

For example, a 1/10 would be a restaurant in a box store or strip mall that uses IKEA furniture and 10/10 would be a restaurant that was custom built from scratch from the ground up using world class architects and interior design firms with specific and customized concepts.

Food is weighted highest in our ranking for obvious reasons…that’s why you’re here! We dive deep here because there are so many elements to consider. This includes flavour profiles, depth, complexity and balance; the quality of the ingredients, presentation, innovation/creativity, and technique.

For example, a score under 10 we would hope are very rare, but could include undercooked or cold, messy plating, poor quality ingredients, overall something you’d prefer you hadn’t eaten. We reserve scores over 25 for the best of the best, top plates of the year, with truly innovative technique flavour profiles and exceptionally creative plating.

This is an attempt at a comprehensive analysis of the beverage offerings. We should note that there is some bias as we can only honestly review what we drink, but we also take into account the following : 1) wine cellar: the diversity and quality of the cellar, which includes both premium selections as well as creative affordable options 2) wine pairings: is there a good range at variable price points, how do the pairings complement the dishes 3) cocktail program: craftsmanship, creativity, unique ingredients, and flavor 4) Non alcoholic options: is this offered, are they made in house, do they complement the dishes appropriately.

Does the team make you feel welcome, are they present and attentive; do they care?

Service can make or break an experience which is why we weighted this second highest of the 8 categories. Is the team warm and friendly, can they explain the origin and detail behind dishes when asked, are there crumbs on the table, is the glassware dirty, are they there when you need them and gone when you don’t? Does it feel rehearsed or genuine? How are you greeted and are you still catered to between the point when the cheque arrives to the point you leave?

For example scores of 5 and below are reserved for offensive, combative or any behaviour that makes you feel genuinely uncomfortable. Scores between 18-20 are reserved for world class service and are meant to be a rare score for that perfect, genuine experience you’ll remember forever.

The “WOW” is hard to find. You know it when you see and experience it…. a sense of awe, surprise or delight. Objectively hard to quantify, we focus on the distinctive features that set a restaurant apart and or elements that leave a lasting impression. This could be food, design, location or “other”. A typical fine dining experience should expect a 1 or 2-5 and scores 3-5 are reserved for unique moments and/or experiences.

This category considers factors related to environmental responsibility, sourcing, and ethical practices. Is there effort to use local organic and seasonal ingredients? What is the approach to waste and energy utilization?

Scores of 1 would depict limited to no effort towards any sustainability practices, such as every ingredient is flown in from around the world (Beluga caviar, Norwegian lobster, Italian truffles, etc…). A 5/5 would describe a menu using local foraged or self grown local farmed vegetables, with energy efficient infrastructure, and a sustainable waste reduction practice.

This is probably the most difficult category to rate, as we expect most of the restaurants we review to be expensive by any absolute measure. However, it is also one of the most important considerations, as it is the only category that takes price into consideration. We have all had that horrible feeling of being “duped” or spending an outrageous amount on something we know wasn’t worth it.

Its important to note this is not an absolute measure of affordability, rather, we factor all of the above against the price of the meal, to provide a relative measure of value against all other restaurants reviewed.

A score of 1/10 would be a restaurant at the highest price point that provided underwhelming or poor experiences, and 10/10 would be a world class top tier experience regardless of the price. Sometimes, albeit very rarely, spending $2000 on a meal is a great value and worth every penny.