When deciding where to eat, guests will often browse restaurant review platforms and food aggregators.
While the situations may differ; from a couple looking for a local Italian bistro, to a group of friends considering a quick service restaurant (QSR) to a family looking for takeout for the weekend, the result is the same. They take their first step online by search local, nearby dining concepts and bars.
Thankfully, a plethora of online platforms exist to guide our palates, offering insights and opinions from fellow food lovers.
In this article, we’ll dive into the world of restaurant review platforms and websites, including helpful food delivery apps with robust rating systems.
What is a restaurant review site?
A restaurant review website is an online platform where individuals can review restaurants and share their experiences, opinions, and ratings.
Restaurant reviews are considered user-generated content (UGC). And because the reviews aren’t by influencers or bloggers, they are seen as social proof and a valuable resource for diners looking for restaurant recommendations.
There is no pattern to the review, although some websites may offer inspiration on what to comment on.
Why should you care about getting on review sites?
There are several ways review sites help dining concepts and bars.
Gain exposure: Review websites can help build awareness and authority for new restaurant brands. Dining concepts can use these reviews as testimonials on their restaurant websites as social proof.
Drive footfall: Positive reviews can drive and increase foot traffic for a restaurant, whether on weekdays or weekends. This can translate to higher revenues.
Boost bookings: For concepts that rely on bookings, positive reviews can increase restaurant reservations.
Boost revenues: With more footfall and bookings, restaurants getting positive reviews are more likely to see a revenue boost.
Marketing tools: Review sites can be considered a marketing tool or an opportunity for a restaurant.
Opportunity for improvement: Restaurant review sites don’t promise positive reviews. So, concepts might see some negative or semi-positive reviews. They can take the opportunity to improve their guest experience so guests can revisit them and share an updated review. Some review sites let restaurants respond to reviews.
Best restaurant review platforms and websites
Now, let’s look at the top restaurant review platforms
Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile (GMB) is a free tool that helps businesses to manage their online presence on Google Search and Maps.
It allows owners to update key details, such as operating hours, their address(es), photos,…etc. Using a Google Business Profile, restaurants can also share posts and updates, respond to reviews, and more.
GMB is considered an essential tool for local SEO efforts as it enhances visibility, builds credibility, and helps attract customers through accurate listings, reviews, and real-time engagement.
Tripadvisor
Travel and hospitality platform Tripadvisor allows guests to review hotels, attractions, and restaurants in various countries around the world.
Customers can use the platform to book rooms, tickets, and make online restaurant reservations. They can also pay reservation deposits to secure their tables days or even months in advance.
Through Tripadvisor, businesses, including restaurants, can manage profiles, respond to reviews, post updates, and engage with their audiences.
For years, Tripadvisor has been considered one of the leading restaurant review platforms, particularly for global audiences and travelers.
Zomato
Launched in 2008, leading global food-tech platform Zomato is one of the top restaurant review sites in many parts of the world.
Although the platform had a wide base of operations in the Middle East, it’s currently available in the UAE
As of 2024, Zomato operates in 600+ cities across 24 countries. The company has over 10 million active users across 1.5 million dining concepts globally.
As a top restaurant review site, Zomato serves as a comprehensive hub for discovering dining options, ordering food online, and accessing real-time reviews, menus, and photos.
Zomato generates revenue through restaurant commissions (20-25% per order), advertising, subscription fees, and event partnerships.
Restaurants can integrate with Zomato to secure online reservations from guests.
OpenTable
OpenTable is both a restaurant reservation management system and a restaurant listing and review site. Established in 1998, OpenTable operates in various countries, connecting diners with over 55,000 restaurants across 80+ countries.
Consumers can use OpenTable to discover restaurants, book tables, and review their dining experience via its website or app.
The Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a prestigious restaurant and hotel rating system published by the French tire company Michelin.
It awards Michelin Stars—from 1 to 3—to exceptional restaurants based on the quality of their food, technique, consistency, and value.
A one-star rating denotes "a very good restaurant," two stars signify "excellent cooking worth a detour," and three stars mean "exceptional cuisine worth a special journey."
Highly influential in the culinary world, the Michelin Guide is popular among fine dining restaurants and bars in 25 countries.
Yelp
Yelp is a popular online platform and review site that allows users to find and review local businesses, including restaurants, shops, services, and more.
It features user-generated reviews, ratings, photos, and business information, helping consumers make informed decisions based on real customer experiences.
Yelp also offers tools for businesses to engage with customers and manage their online presence.
Eater
Eater is a leading digital publication focused on the restaurant and food industry, which makes it one of our best restaurant review platforms.
It covers the latest restaurant news, dining trends, and in-depth reviews, offering insights into emerging culinary hotspots and industry changes.
Owing to its view of the dynamic food scene, customers use Eater to discover new dining experiences and stay informed on market shifts.
HappyCow
Another top restaurant review site, HappyCow is a comprehensive online platform and mobile app dedicated to helping users find vegan and vegetarian-friendly eateries and stores.
HappyCow offers detailed listings of restaurants, cafes, farmers markets, and health food stores. All are accompanied by user reviews, photos, and ratings, making it an essential go-to resource for those seeking plant-based dining options worldwide.
EatGoSee
Known as an honest food and travel review platform, EatGoSee offers in-depth insights into restaurants, hotels, and unique culinary experiences.
EatGoSee blends culinary reviews with travel guides, helping guests discover dining concepts, bars, and sights.
GAYOT
Culinary and lifestyle guide GAYOT, founded by French journalist and food critic André Gayot, is one of the best restaurant review websites. It offers detailed restaurant reviews, travel recommendations, and wine insights.
Known for its rigorous evaluations, GAYOT emphasizes French cuisine, ambiance, and service quality, distinguishing itself from competitors like Michelin by blending tradition with modern culinary trends.
Zagat
Zagat is a trusted restaurant guide that gathers ratings and reviews directly from diners. It provides clear, numeric scores for aspects such as food quality, decor, and service, helping guests quickly gauge a restaurant’s overall appeal.
Initially started in 1979, Zagat has become a go-to resource for those seeking reliable, community-driven dining recommendations.
Foursquare
Location-based tech platform, Foursquare provides personalized recommendations and insights about places to go, based on user check-ins, reviews, and location data.
Originally launched as a social check-in app, Foursquare has evolved to offer both consumer services, like discovering restaurants and attractions, and enterprise solutions through its location intelligence platform.
Talabat
Founded in Kuwait in 2004, Talabat is a leading food and grocery delivery platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
A subsidiary of Delivery Hero, a global leader in online food delivery services, Talabat has operations in Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Iraq.
Talabat users can order meals, groceries, pharmaceuticals, and other essentials through its website or mobile app, offering features like real-time order tracking, multiple payment options, and personalized recommendations.
Careem Food
Careem Food is the food delivery service of Dubai-based super app Careem, offering rides, groceries, and payments.
Operating across multiple countries in the MENA region, Careem Food lets users order meals from a wide range of local restaurants. It comes with features such as real-time order tracking, personalized recommendations, and exclusive discounts for Careem Plus subscribers.
Although it’s a delivery app, Careem Food also allows guests to review restaurants on its app. That’s why it’s on our list of restaurant review platforms.
In Dubai alone, Careem offers delivery for 9,000+ restaurants. Careem Plus subscribers don’t pay delivery fees.
Deliveroo
Deliveroo is a prominent food delivery service operating in several countries, including the UK, Australia, and parts of Europe and Asia. The app allows users to order meals from a wide range of local restaurants and have them delivered to their doorstep.
Deliveroo can be considered a restaurant review platform because it includes a rating and review system in its app. After completing an order, customers can rate their experience on a scale from 1 to 5 stars.
These ratings are publicly visible and contribute to the restaurant's overall rating displayed in the app. Users can also write reviews, which are published directly in the app and can be viewed by other customers.
Uber Eats
Launched by Uber in 2014, Uber Eats is a global food delivery platform that connects users to various local restaurants. Customers can order meals and have them delivered by couriers using cars, scooters, bikes, or on foot.
Uber Eats is available in various countries and 6,000 cities, including the UAE.
Restaurants can list their brands on the app to get visibility from customers looking to try new dishes or restaurants.
Noon Food
Noon Food is a regional food delivery platform that’s part of UAE-based e-commerce platform Noon. Serving customers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Noon Food offers access to over 10,000 dining concepts and more than 100 cuisines. It provides fast delivery options including doorstep service and pickup.
The platform is designed to support local restaurants with low commission rates and various promotional tools.
HungerStation
One of Saudi Arabia’s leading food aggregators and restaurant review platforms, HungerStation operates across 102 Saudi cities.
Unlike the above platforms, HungerStation is only currently available in Saudi Arabia.
Established in 2012, HungerStation connects customers with more than 55,000 restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, and other stores.
Users can browse menus, place orders, and enjoy features like real-time tracking, multiple payment options, and promotions through the app.
HungerStation allows users to rate and review restaurants they have ordered from.
Jahez
Another prominent Saudi food delivery platform and top contender with HungerStation is Jahez. Launched in 2016, Jahez operates in 54 cities in Saudi Arabia, connecting users with a vast network of restaurants.
Jahez is known for its efficient delivery service, with an average delivery time of approximately 30 minutes. The app supports various payment methods, including Apple Pay, Mada, and cash on delivery.
Additionally, Jahez offers a premium subscription, "Jahez Plus," which provides benefits such as free delivery and exclusive offers.
Consumers using Jahez can review restaurants they order from. They can rate their experience using a 1-to-5 stars system. Reviews are public for all to see.
Users can see a summary of the ratings breakdown and view and rate their past orders through their order history page. The app also allows users to delete their own past ratings and reviews if necessary.
Make the most of restaurant guest reviews
Guest reviews can make or break your restaurant business. While you should aim to collect positive reviews, negative ones can help you step up and improve your offerings, menus, level of services, and even price.
A lot goes on behind the scenes in a restaurant. While food is the main area of focus. For dine-in concepts, ambiance, guest experience, presentation, lighting, and much more are on the spotlight. Guests take it all in to decide whether they had a positive dining experience or not.
Positive reviews can bring in more guests, whether through reservations or foot traffic. They can also help you improve guest retention in your concept.
One way to collect online reviews can be through automated restaurant guest surveys. These are super-quick surveys you send out after every reservation or bill is closed. You can create, manage, and send these surveys through restaurant reservation management systems, like Servme.
Concepts and bistros using Servme can also integrate with reservation or booking channels like Michelin Guide, Zomato, and Tripadvisor. Here, the restaurant can get online reservations from these restaurant review platforms.
Once a bill is closed, the guest can review the dining concept or a restaurant via the platform, improving your ranking and the number of positive reviews you receive.
Through Servme, you can also integrate with social media platforms and get direct reservations from Facebook and Instagram. You can also get bookings from Reserve with Google, which is only available via reservation management software.
Wrapping it up
Restaurant review platforms and websites offer unique opportunities for visibility, attracting new and repeat guests.
Some, like food aggregators, may offer a way to increase restaurant sales. However, aggregators like Careem Food, Uber Eats, and Talabat make their money by taking a percentage from your total order. In other words, they take a chunk of your revenue.
So, make sure you offer great dining experiences to get more bookings, footfall, and happy guests.
Need help managing your restaurant, from reservations to waitlists to table management to marketing? Servme can help. Get in touch to learn more.
Nada Sobhi
Marketing
