Tips for doing dining review?

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I need some tips quick on how to start a dining review. We leave on Thursday and sadly I won't have access to a computer after tomorrow (darn laptop cord is broken again! ) so I need all of the advice now.

Do you carry a notebook around to record what you got and the price? Do you just make mental notes?

I'm doing this as a practice run for my trip in December with my DBF. (I'm going with my twin sister and parents in a few days).

Thanks for the tips!

 

[scroot]

Pictures help so does a notebook.

But my best advice is--Don't go to the steak house and order fish or the fish place and order steak. I am always stunned by the folks who go to flying fish and complain about the beef. Granted when you pay that much whatever you get ought to be top notch but if you stick to the specialty of the house you are apt to have a better experience.

Hope you have a great time

 

[Robert P]

Great advice scroot, and I agree, pictures and a notebook are good.

I use the actual receipt to recall the prices and items.
But also -
I often have the menu printed off back in the room (from this or another website) and when we return, I highlight what we had, and jot down any comments right beside the item. I usually just make mental notes about the service, and write that down as well when I get back to the room, if it stands out at all (either good or bad). Memory works well, but after several days and many meals (and add in lots of alcohol), my recollection ability gets a little fuzzy. If you want to capture the details of the meal, it's best to record your thoughts as soon as you can.

As nutty as that menu idea may sound, when our group is deciding where to dine (w/o ADR's), it helps to have a menu handy, so everyone can see what is available before we waste transpo time to get somewhere, and find out that Aunt So-And-So can't find anything she wants to eat there!!

Last advice I have:
When you write the review, please write why you liked/disliked something. A review where everyone vaguely loves everything or hates everything, with no explaination given, isn't the most useful thing.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Thanks for all of the tips! I'm planning on doing pictures, but the menu idea is great!

 

[TigerKat]

I do the menu thing too! Before we leave I print out all menus that way we can all glance at it before we head out to dinner. I also use it to make notes!

 

[dani0622]

Robert P had some great advice! I've written some pretty detailed reviews myself (I even had a food blog where I sometimes write dining reviews). What helps me is #1 pictures. I don't care if people are looking weird at me! What also helps is getting printouts of the menu as suggested and then when you get back to your room, writing notes next to the item you've ordered. I've also taken pictures of the menus to help. Allearsnet has all the menus for you.

 

[Quinn222]

Don't forget you're reviewing the restaurant, not just the food. How was the service? The atmosphere? etc.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I plan to take pictures of everything, especially the places that we haven't been to before. Like I said it's a practice run for my December trip.

The tips have been great and very helpful! Thank!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm probably one of the most obsessive people ever with my reviews. I always take pictures of my food. That night when I get back to my room, I have a journal specifically for my meals, as well as menus I've printed from online. I keep my reciepts, servers name, and dates written down in the journal, as well as what I ate.