The best restaurant review sites are Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor, OpenTable, Facebook, Resy, TheFork and Instagram. Diners use these restaurant review sites to pick where to eat, what to order and whether a place is worth the trip. For owners, a strong rating on the right sites fills tables, boosts delivery orders and lifts you in local search.
Last updated: October 2026
Key takeaways
- Google is the most seen review site for restaurants, because ratings show in search and maps.
- Yelp and Tripadvisor matter most in the US and in tourist areas.
- Booking apps like OpenTable, Resy and TheFork collect reviews from verified diners.
- Delivery apps such as DoorDash and Uber Eats have their own ratings that affect your orders.
- Niche sites like HappyCow and Find Me Gluten Free bring loyal guests with special diets.
- Ask for reviews in a fair way, reply to all of them and never buy or filter reviews.
Why Reviews Matter So Much for Restaurants
Few industries depend on reviews as much as restaurants. Diners often decide where to eat in minutes, on their phones, while standing on the street. A few stars and a handful of photos can win or lose a table.
- Local search. Google ranks restaurants in the map pack using relevance, distance and prominence. Reviews are a big part of prominence. More good, recent reviews help you show for “restaurants near me” and “best pizza in [city]”.
- Menu discovery. Diners mention dishes in reviews. Google can show those dish names in results, which helps you appear for searches like “ramen near me”.
- Trust and choice. Many diners compare two or three places. Fresh reviews with photos usually win.
- AI answers. AI tools use Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor and food guides when they suggest where to eat. Being well rated across many sites gives you more chances to be named.
Before you chase reviews, make sure your listings are correct. Wrong hours or an old phone number lead to angry reviews fast. Our guide to citation sites for restaurants shows where to list your restaurant first.
Where Diners Check Restaurant Reviews
- Google Maps. The most common place to check ratings, photos, menus and busy times.
- Yelp. Strong in US cities. Yelp’s recommendation software hides reviews it thinks are less reliable.
- Tripadvisor. The go to site for travelers and tourist areas around the world.
- OpenTable, Resy and TheFork. Reviews come from diners who booked and ate, so many people trust them more.
- Delivery apps. DoorDash, Uber Eats and others show ratings that guests see before they order.
- Instagram and TikTok. Many younger diners find new places through short videos and food creators.
- Food guides. The Michelin Guide, Eater and The Infatuation publish expert picks that diners trust for special nights out.
How to Spot Fake Restaurant Reviews
- Real reviews often mention specific dishes, servers or the time of the visit.
- Many five star reviews in a few days, all with no detail, is a red flag.
- Check reviewer profiles. One review only, or reviews of many places in different cities on the same day, is suspicious.
- Look at diner photos. They are harder to fake than text.
- Compare ratings on Google, Yelp and a booking app. Big differences deserve a closer look.
Major Restaurant Review Platforms
| # | Site | Website | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Business Profile | google.com | Search and maps reviews | Every restaurant, café and takeaway |
| 2 | Yelp | yelp.com | Local review site | US city restaurants |
| 3 | Tripadvisor | tripadvisor.com | Travel review site | Tourist areas and destination dining |
| 4 | facebook.com | Social recommendations | Local regulars and community groups | |
| 5 | Apple Business Connect | apple.com | Maps ratings | iPhone users searching Apple Maps |
| 6 | Bing Places | bing.com | Search and maps reviews | Extra search visibility |
Reservation and Dining App Review Sites
| # | Site | Website | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | OpenTable | opentable.com | Reservations with verified reviews | Sit down restaurants |
| 8 | Resy | resy.com | Reservations with ratings | Popular city restaurants |
| 9 | TheFork | thefork.com | Reservations with verified reviews | Restaurants in Europe and Australia |
| 10 | Tock | exploretock.com | Reservations and experiences | Tasting menus and wineries |
| 11 | Beli | beliapp.com | Social restaurant ranking app | Younger diners sharing favorites |
Food Delivery Apps With Ratings
| # | Site | Website | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | DoorDash | doordash.com | Delivery app | Delivery and pickup in the US, Canada and Australia |
| 13 | Uber Eats | ubereats.com | Delivery app | Delivery in many countries |
| 14 | Grubhub | grubhub.com | Delivery app | US delivery and campus dining |
| 15 | Deliveroo | deliveroo.co.uk | Delivery app | UK and Europe delivery |
| 16 | Just Eat | just-eat.co.uk | Delivery app | UK takeaways |
| 17 | SkipTheDishes | skipthedishes.com | Delivery app | Canadian delivery |
| 18 | Menulog | menulog.com.au | Delivery app | Australian takeaways |
Special Diet, Coffee and Drinks Review Sites
| # | Site | Website | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | HappyCow | happycow.net | Vegan and vegetarian guide | Plant based restaurants |
| 20 | Find Me Gluten Free | findmeglutenfree.com | Gluten free guide | Gluten free menus |
| 21 | Untappd | untappd.com | Beer check in app | Brewpubs and craft beer bars |
| 22 | RateBeer | ratebeer.com | Beer reviews | Breweries and beer focused venues |
| 23 | BeerAdvocate | beeradvocate.com | Beer reviews | Beer bars and brewery taprooms |
| 24 | Beanhunter | beanhunter.com | Coffee shop reviews | Specialty cafés |
Food Guides and Restaurant Aggregator Sites
| # | Site | Website | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Restaurant Guru | restaurantguru.com | Review aggregator | Combined ratings across sites |
| 26 | Restaurantji | restaurantji.com | Review aggregator | US local restaurant pages |
| 27 | Zomato | zomato.com | Food discovery and delivery | Restaurants in India and the UAE |
| 28 | The Infatuation | theinfatuation.com | Editorial restaurant guide | City dining guides |
| 29 | Michelin Guide | guide.michelin.com | Editorial restaurant guide | Fine dining recognition |
| 30 | Eater | eater.com | Food news and guides | New openings and city lists |
| 31 | Groupon | groupon.com | Deals with reviews | Deal driven first visits |
Country Specific Restaurant Review Sites
| # | Site | Website | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Square Meal | squaremeal.co.uk | UK restaurant guide with reviews | London and UK restaurants |
| 33 | Yell | yell.com | UK directory with reviews | UK local search |
| 34 | AGFG | agfg.com.au | Australian food guide | Australian restaurants |
| 35 | Good Food | goodfood.com.au | Australian editorial guide | Sydney and Melbourne dining |
| 36 | Swiggy | swiggy.com | Delivery and dining app | Restaurants in India |
Social and Community Review Sites
| # | Site | Website | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | instagram.com | Photo and video social | Food photos and creator posts | |
| 38 | TikTok | tiktok.com | Short video social | Viral dishes and food creators |
| 39 | Nextdoor | nextdoor.com | Neighborhood recommendations | Neighborhood regulars |
| 40 | reddit.com | Community discussion | City food threads and honest opinions |
Top 10 Restaurant Review Sites at a Glance
| Site | Website | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | google.com | Search and maps reviews | Every restaurant |
| Yelp | yelp.com | Local review site | US cities |
| Tripadvisor | tripadvisor.com | Travel review site | Tourists |
| OpenTable | opentable.com | Verified diner reviews | Sit down dining |
| facebook.com | Social recommendations | Local regulars | |
| Resy | resy.com | Reservations with ratings | City hotspots |
| TheFork | thefork.com | Verified diner reviews | Europe and Australia |
| DoorDash | doordash.com | Delivery app | Delivery orders |
| instagram.com | Photo and video social | Discovery | |
| HappyCow | happycow.net | Vegan guide | Plant based diners |
Review Tips for Different Types of Restaurants
A fine dining room and a late night takeaway do not win reviews in the same way. Here is what to focus on for each type of venue.
Fine Dining and Special Occasion Restaurants
Guests plan these meals ahead, so they read more reviews and compare more sites. OpenTable, Resy, Tock and Google matter most. Editorial guides like the Michelin Guide, Eater and The Infatuation also shape choices. You cannot ask for a critic review, but strong guest reviews and great photos help you get noticed.
Casual Dining and Family Restaurants
Families care about value, kids menus, service speed and parking. Google, Yelp and Facebook are the main sites. Ask happy families at the table, and keep your Google menu and photos up to date so guests know what to expect.
Fast Casual, Takeaways and Delivery Kitchens
For these venues, delivery app ratings can matter as much as Google. Check DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Just Eat or Deliveroo each day. Fix common issues like missing items and cold food quickly, because they show up in ratings fast. A short card in the bag with a review QR code works well.
Cafés, Bakeries and Coffee Shops
Regulars visit often but rarely think to leave a review. A small sign near the counter with a QR code helps. Coffee focused cafés should also claim their profile on Beanhunter, and cafés with vegan or gluten free options should add HappyCow and Find Me Gluten Free.
Restaurants in Tourist Areas
Travelers lean on Tripadvisor and Google, and many read reviews in their own language. Reply in the same language as the review when you can. Simple translated replies show international guests that you welcome them.
Restaurant Groups With Several Locations
Each location needs its own Google profile and its own reviews. Do not send every guest to one main profile. Track ratings per location, and give each manager the job of replying to their own reviews in a shared brand voice.
How to Choose Which Restaurant Review Sites to Focus On
You cannot manage 40 sites well at once. Pick the ones your guests really use.
- Google first. Claim your profile, add your menu, photos and hours, and keep them current.
- Add Yelp and Tripadvisor. Yelp for US cities, Tripadvisor for tourist areas, hotels nearby and travel heavy towns.
- Use your booking and delivery partners. If you use OpenTable, Resy, TheFork or DoorDash, their ratings are already live. Watch and reply to them.
- Match your cuisine. Vegan menus need HappyCow. Gluten free options need Find Me Gluten Free. Craft beer venues need Untappd.
- Match your country. UK venues should watch Square Meal and Yell. Australian venues should check AGFG. Indian restaurants depend on Zomato and Swiggy.
- Search like a diner. Search “best [cuisine] in [city]” and note which restaurant review sites show on page one.
For more general platforms, see our full guide to the best business review sites. Restaurants that also run a bar can use our list of bar and pub citation sites, and those that cater events should read our guide to catering citation sites.
How to Get More Restaurant Reviews
Ask at the Right Moment
- When a guest praises the food or the server.
- When the bill arrives, with a small card or a QR code.
- In the thank you email after an online booking.
- In the delivery bag, with a small printed card.
Easy Ways to Ask
- Print a Google review QR code on table tents, receipts or the bill folder.
- Add a review link to your booking confirmation and follow up emails.
- Train staff to say a simple line, such as “If you enjoyed tonight, a quick Google review really helps us.”
- Put a review link in your Instagram bio and in post captions now and then.
Email Template
Subject: Thanks for dining with us
Hi [Name], thank you for joining us at [Restaurant] last night. We hope you enjoyed your meal. If you have a moment, could you share a short review? It helps other diners find us. [review link] If anything was not right, just reply here and our manager will get back to you. See you soon, [Name]
SMS Template
Thanks for visiting [Restaurant] today! Could you leave us a quick review? [short link] It really helps our small team.
If you want reviews, menus and local rankings handled together, our restaurant local SEO service covers Google profile work, listings and review strategy. Groups with several locations may need a wider plan, which our professional SEO services can cover.
Review Rules Restaurants Must Follow
This is general information, not legal advice.
- No review gating. Do not ask only happy guests and send unhappy ones somewhere private. Google does not allow it.
- No free food for reviews. A free dessert or discount in exchange for a review breaks most platform rules.
- Yelp is different. Yelp asks businesses not to ask for reviews at all. You can let guests know you are on Yelp, but do not request reviews there.
- No fake or staff reviews. Staff, friends and family should not review your restaurant.
- US rules. The FTC rule on consumer reviews bans fake reviews, buying reviews and hiding honest negative reviews.
- UK rules. The DMCC Act bans fake reviews and hiding negative reviews, and the CMA can fine businesses that break it.
- Australia and Canada. The ACCC and the Competition Bureau both act against fake and misleading reviews.
- Influencer posts. If you give free meals to creators, they should clearly disclose it. This is a rule in many countries.
How to Respond to Restaurant Reviews
Replies show future guests how you treat people. Keep them short, friendly and personal.
Example Reply to a Positive Review
“Thank you, Priya! We are so happy you loved the lamb curry and that Tom took good care of your table. We hope to see you again soon.”
Example Reply to a Negative Review
“Hi Mark, we are sorry your food arrived cold on Friday. That is not what we want for any guest. Our manager would like to make it right. Please email us at [email] so we can talk.”
Special care for food safety and allergy reviews:
- Take any allergy or illness complaint seriously and move it to a private channel quickly.
- Do not admit fault or deny it in public. Investigate first.
- Never share a guest’s booking details, health details or what they ordered beyond what they wrote.
How to Handle Fake Restaurant Reviews
- Check bookings, receipts and the date mentioned.
- Flag the review on the platform and say which rule it breaks.
- Reply calmly in public: “We cannot find a record of this visit. Please contact us so we can look into it.”
- Watch for review bombing after news stories or viral posts. Many platforms add alerts and remove off topic reviews in these cases.
- Keep collecting real reviews so one fake rating has less weight.
How to Track Your Restaurant Review Results
- New reviews per week on Google, Yelp and Tripadvisor.
- Average rating per site and per location.
- Delivery app ratings and order volume.
- Dish names and staff names that keep coming up.
- Calls, direction requests and bookings from your Google profile.
Common Mistakes Restaurants Make With Reviews
- Leaving wrong holiday hours on Google.
- Replying to bad reviews in anger.
- Offering free items for five star reviews.
- Ignoring delivery app ratings.
- Only checking reviews once a month.
- Never adding fresh photos of food and the dining room.
Running a bar side of the business too? Our sister guide to review sites for bars and pubs covers nightlife platforms. If you also do events, see the list of review sites for caterers.
Do you have restaurant marketing tips to share? Send us a pitch through our marketing write for us page.
Monthly Restaurant Review Checklist
- Check that hours, holiday hours, menu and phone are correct on Google, Yelp and Tripadvisor.
- Add at least a few new photos of dishes, drinks and the dining room.
- Reply to every new review on Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor and your booking app.
- Read delivery app ratings and note any repeat problems, such as missing items.
- Share the top themes from reviews with your kitchen and front of house team.
- Thank staff who are named in positive reviews. It keeps the team motivated.
- Look at your three nearest competitors and compare review counts and ratings.
- Make sure table QR codes still scan and point to the right review page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular restaurant review site?
Google is the most used place to check restaurant reviews, because ratings appear in search and maps. Yelp and Tripadvisor are also very popular.
Which restaurant review site is most trustworthy?
Sites that only let real guests review, like OpenTable and TheFork, are often seen as more reliable. It is still smart to compare several sites.
Is Yelp or Google better for restaurant reviews?
Google has far more reach and affects map rankings. Yelp still matters in many US cities and feeds data to some other apps. Most restaurants should manage both.
Is Tripadvisor still used for restaurants?
Yes. Tripadvisor is still a major choice for travelers, so it matters most for restaurants in tourist areas and near hotels.
Can restaurants ask customers for reviews?
Yes on Google, Tripadvisor and most other sites, as long as you ask everyone and offer nothing in return. Yelp asks businesses not to request reviews.
How do I get more Google reviews for my restaurant?
Use QR codes on tables and receipts, add a review link to booking emails and train staff to ask happy guests. Make it quick and easy.
Can a restaurant remove a bad review?
Only if it breaks the platform’s rules, for example if it is fake, off topic or hateful. Honest bad reviews stay, so a calm and helpful reply is your best move.
Do delivery app ratings matter?
Yes. Delivery apps show ratings next to your name, and guests often skip low rated options. Good ratings can also help your placement inside the app.
Are food influencer posts the same as reviews?
Not exactly. Creator posts can drive many visits, but if a meal was free, the post should clearly say so. Real guest reviews on Google and other sites still matter most for trust.
Conclusion
Diners read reviews before almost every new meal out. Start with Google, add Yelp and Tripadvisor, then manage the booking, delivery and niche restaurant review sites that fit your venue. Ask every guest fairly, reply to every review and keep your listings correct. Done well, reviews become a steady source of new and returning guests.
