Common restaurant accreditations and ratings

What is a restaurant rating?

Restaurant ratings identify a restaurant in relation to its quality. Different methods can be used to identify its rank such as stars, symbols or letters. The most common method is one to five stars. A restaurant can be rated by the reviews that it receives for its food and service. A food critic will visit the establishment and write a review.

What is a food critic?

A food critic, food writer or restaurant critic can all be described as someone who analyses food at the restaurant and then writes a review. Often they will not identify themselves to the restaurant staff so that they do not receive preferential treatment and are able to write an unbiased article. They will then publish this opinion through a newspaper or magazine or they will publish it on the internet. A noted food critic can become someone of great importance as a fine dining restaurant will rely heavily on a favourable and positive review.

How does a restaurant get awarded?

In Australia we have different ways of awarding our best restaurants. These awards can be voted by us as consumers and by people in the food industry. The most noted awarded is the Chef’s Hat. The better a restaurant’s quality, the more Chef’s Hats it will receive. You might see your restaurant with the chef’s hat symbol or it may just say “hatted” after the business name. Restaurants can also receive various awards as set by noted food magazines or other food guides in the industry. An example of these awards might be Restaurant of the Year or Best New Restaurant.

What is restaurant certification?

Restaurant certification is a process where restaurants will undertake assessments and, upon completion, be Certified Professional Restaurateurs. The letters CPR may then be seen after the business owner’s name. A restaurant will choose to undertake this certification as a means of improving the quality of both the restaurant as a business and its staff. This all leads to a better dining experience for the customer.

What is restaurant accreditation?

Restaurant accreditation is a voluntary process which a restaurant might choose to undertake after completing their CPR. This accreditation will ensure the business has all legal requirements in place such as licences, insurances and health inspections. If you are unsure about whether or not your restaurant has this certification you can contact them and ask.

As consumers we can advantage of all of these systems that are set in place within our food industry. Read the restaurant review articles in your local newspaper or check online for award winning restaurants to ensure that your dining experience is the best that you can afford.