reviews restaurant websites

A Curated List of the Best Restaurant Review Websites for 2024

Why are Restaurant Online Reviews Important?

Top restaurant review sites and apps, best tips on managing your online reviews, strategies for success with orders.co’s guest feedback monitoring.

In the challenging restaurant business, earning trust and keeping customers loyal is crucial.  

BrightLocal.com found that 72% of people trust local businesses more when they have positive reviews. 

For restaurant owners and managers, having an excellent online reputation isn’t just nice—it’s essential. 

That’s where restaurant review websites come in. 

They’re helpful tools that show what customers think, take control of guest feedback monitoring , point out areas for improvement, and shape how people see your restaurant. 

So, for restaurant business owners who want to stay on top, knowing about and using the best restaurant review websites is a must. 

Let’s check out some of the top ones!

Before we delve into the reasons, let’s consider a significant statistic: a whopping 80% of customers are likely to utilize a rating filter when searching for a restaurant. 

Now, why does this matter?

Customer Decision Making

Online reviews act as virtual word-of-mouth recommendations. Potential customers often turn to the best restaurant review websites to gauge the quality of a restaurant before deciding to dine there. 

Positive reviews can sway undecided customers to choose your establishment over competitors.

Trust and Credibility

Positive reviews contribute to building credibility and trust for your restaurant. 

When customers see that others have had enjoyable experiences at your establishment, they are likelier to trust your business and feel confident in their decision to dine with you.

Visibility and Ranking

Many of the best restaurant review websites factor in ratings and reviews when determining search rankings. 

Higher-rated restaurants often appear at the top of search results, increasing visibility and attracting more potential customers.

Feedback and Improvement

Online reviews provide valuable feedback directly from customers. 

Whether positive or negative, this feedback offers insights into what customers like and dislike about your restaurant. 

It is a very useful insight for identifying areas for improvement and refining your offerings to better meet customer expectations.

Competitive Advantage

Maintaining a positive online reputation can give your restaurant a competitive edge in today’s digital age, where consumers rely heavily on online information . 

Positive reviews differentiate your restaurant from competitors and influence potential customers to choose your establishment over others.

A half-star rating improvement on the popular site Yelp makes it 30 to 49% more likely that a restaurant business will sell out seats during peak hours. 

This underscores the immense impact of online reviews on restaurant success and the importance of effectively leveraging review platforms. 

Now, let’s explore the features, benefits, and optimization strategies for different restaurant review sites and apps:

Although Orders.co isn’t a traditional restaurant review site, it offers a powerful guest feedback monitoring tool for restaurants. It allows collecting customer reviews directly after each order.

This gives restaurants a chance to understand their customers’ experiences and take action to improve.

• Receive On-the-Spot Website Reviews : Restaurants get notified immediately after placing an order when customers leave reviews on their website, thus facilitating instant feedback and engagement.
• Emailed-Product Review after Order Completion : Customers receive automated emails after order completion, prompting them to leave product reviews and enhancing post-purchase engagement. 
• Experience Review Pushed to Mainstream Platforms : This technology enables businesses to push positive experience reviews to mainstream review platforms, increasing their visibility and credibility.
• Get instant alerts for customer reviews, enabling prompt response and resolution of any concerns.
• Real reviews and feedback boost brand credibility, increasing conversions and fostering trust with potential customers.
• Incorporating authentic testimonials into marketing efforts can deeply resonate with potential customers, enhancing brand loyalty.

Optimization

• Guest Feedback Monitoring offers a comprehensive approach to collecting and managing customer feedback post-transaction.
• Captures detailed product reviews, providing insights into specific products or services and guiding product improvement efforts.
• Optimizes the entire review process, from collection to analysis, enabling businesses to gather actionable insights and make data-driven decisions.

Google My Business

• Features : Google My Business allows restaurant owners to create detailed business profiles, including contact information, location, hours of operation, photos, and even menus. Customers can also leave reviews and ratings directly on your Google listing.
• Benefits : Google My Business integrates seamlessly with Google Search and Google Maps, making it easy for potential customers to discover your restaurant business when searching online. Positive reviews and high ratings can highly improve your restaurant’s visibility in search results.

• Features : Yelp is a popular review platform where users can search for restaurant businesses based on location, cuisine, and other factors. Users can read and write reviews, view photos, and even make reservations directly through the platform.
• Benefits : Yelp has a large user base and is trusted by many consumers for restaurant recommendations. Positive reviews on Yelp can significantly impact your restaurant’s reputation and attract new customers.

• Features : OpenTable allows users to make restaurant reservations, read reviews, and view restaurant ratings. It also offers features like table management and guest management for restaurant owners.
• Benefits : For restaurant owners, OpenTable provides a platform to attract diners, manage reservations efficiently, and collect valuable feedback.

TripAdvisor

• Features : TripAdvisor features reviews and ratings for restaurants, hotels, and attractions worldwide. It offers a platform for travelers to discover and share their experiences.
• Benefits : TripAdvisor provides visibility to restaurants among travelers and allows them to showcase their offerings to a global audience.

Grubhub , DoorDash , Uber Eats , Postmates , and Seamless (Delivery Apps)

• Features : These platforms offer online food delivery and pickup services from local restaurants , allowing users to browse menus, place orders, and track deliveries.
• Benefits : For restaurant owners, these delivery apps provide additional revenue streams, increased visibility, and access to a large customer base.

• Features : Foursquare is a location-based platform that provides recommendations for restaurants, bars, and other businesses based on user preferences and location.
• Benefits : Foursquare helps restaurants reach a targeted audience of local users who are actively seeking recommendations for dining options in their area.
• Features : Facebook allows businesses to create pages to share updates, photos, and events with followers. Customers can leave reviews and recommendations on a business’s Facebook page.
• Benefits : Having a presence on Facebook allows restaurants to engage with customers, build a community, and showcase their offerings to a wide audience.

Here are some key strategies to effectively handle both positive and negative reviews while leveraging specialized teams for swift management and automation:

Claim Your Business Listings

Ensure that your business is listed accurately on popular review platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Facebook. Claiming your listings allows you to control the information displayed about your business and respond to reviews promptly.

Optimize Your Review Platform Pages 

Enhance the visual appeal and credibility of your review platform pages by regularly updating them with the latest high-quality photos of your establishment, menu items, and offerings. 

Ensure that all information, including business hours, contact details, and menu options, is kept up-to-date and consistent across all review platforms to provide customers with accurate and reliable information. This not only improves the overall presentation of your business but also instills confidence in potential customers and encourages them to engage with your brand.

Monitor Reviews Regularly

Set up alerts or notifications to monitor new reviews across various platforms. Regularly monitoring reviews allows you to stay informed about customer feedback and respond promptly to both positive and negative reviews.

Responding to Positive Reviews

• Acknowledge and express gratitude: Respond promptly to positive reviews, thanking customers for their kind words and patronage.
• Personalize responses: Tailor your responses to each reviewer, mentioning specific aspects of their experience that they appreciated.
• Encourage loyalty: Take the opportunity to invite satisfied customers to visit again or try out new offerings, fostering a sense of loyalty and engagement.
• Highlight positive reviews on your website and social media channels to showcase the positive experiences of satisfied customers. This can help build trust with potential customers and enhance your online reputation.

Responding to Negative Reviews

• Stay calm and professional: Approach negative reviews with professionalism and empathy, avoiding defensive or confrontational language.
• Apologize and address concerns: Acknowledge any issues raised by the reviewer, apologize for any inconvenience caused, and offer solutions or assurances for improvement.
• Take the conversation offline: Whenever possible, invite dissatisfied customers to contact you directly to discuss their concerns further, demonstrating a commitment to resolving issues privately and effectively.

Implement Feedback from Reviews

Use feedback from reviews to identify areas for improvement and make necessary changes to enhance the customer experience. Continuously strive to address customer concerns and exceed expectations based on their feedback.

Managing online reviews effectively is crucial for restaurants’ success and reputation.

By implementing best practices for responding to positive and negative reviews, restaurants can foster customer engagement, loyalty, and satisfaction. 

One notable platform in this regard is Orders.co , which offers comprehensive guest feedback monitoring capabilities. 

With Orders.co, restaurants can receive on-the-spot notifications of customer reviews, enabling immediate response and resolution of any issues. 

This guest feedback monitoring system improves brand credibility and amplifies customer trust, driving more conversions and building long-term loyalty.

Schedule a FREE Demo today and discover how Orders.co can help you improve customer satisfaction, build brand credibility, and drive restaurant business growth through effective review management.

Your Inbox, Your Rules!

Tailor your newsletter with the topics you're most interested in., related blogs, restaurant marketing 101.

How To Optimize Your Restaurant Order Management & Boost Online Orders

Guide To Setting Up A Restaurant Ordering Website For Local Businesses

7 Best Restaurant Review Sites in 2024: Where You Need to Rank

Jordan Nisbet

It's happening again...

Your belly growls. It's been too long since you last ate. You're craving a delicious meal from a new restaurant.

But you're not quite sure where to go.

What's the first thing you do?

If you're like most people, you probably turn to online reviews as a guide.

Restaurant review sites are more important than ever for restaurant owners to understand which platforms have the most significant impact on their business.

In today's digital age, your restaurant's online reputation can make or break its success. That's why we've put together this comprehensive guide to the best restaurant review sites for 2024, helping you find the right reviews for your dining needs, and assisting restaurant owners in improving their online presence.

Grow your small business by using our reviews product today.

Get the latest commerce news, trends, and strategies to grow your business

Short Summary

Restaurant review sites are essential to maximize potential and attract customers.

Leverage Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Facebook for increased visibility and customer engagement.

Invest in management solutions to maintain a positive online reputation & provide memorable dining experiences.

The Importance of Top Restaurant Review Sites

Restaurant review sites have become a vital part of the decision-making process for diners. In fact, Google restaurant reviews alone can have a significant impact on a restaurant's ranking in search results, making it crucial for restaurant owners to claim their restaurant listing and actively maintain their online reputation.

Top restaurant review sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor , and OpenTable play a huge role in attracting customers and boosting revenue for restaurants.

A one-star increase in Yelp rating, for instance, can bring an incredible 9% increase in revenue . With 178 million unique monthly users. Yelp is a powerful platform that can help restaurant owners maximize their potential by listing their business and ensuring they are receiving positive reviews.

Similarly, TripAdvisor, with its strong presence in the restaurant industry, has become an essential resource for many customers searching for “restaurants near me”.

Google Business Profile is another must-have tool for restaurants, helping them boost their visibility in search results and enabling customers to leave valuable feedback. By creating a business listing on Google Business Profile , restaurant owners can enhance their online presence and attract more customers, ultimately increasing their revenue.

Let's dive into specific restaurant review sites in more detail below!

Google Business Profile: A Must-Have for Restaurants

As mentioned earlier, Google Business Profile is an essential tool for restaurants looking to boost their search engine rankings and enable customers to provide valuable feedback. To get started, restaurant owners can simply visit the Google Business Profile homepage and click on “Manage now.”

If the restaurant is not already listed, you can easily add it. Creating and managing a business listing on Google Business Profile will help restaurant owners increase their visibility in search results and give customers a platform to share their experiences, helping to attract even more customers.

However, it's important to note that negative reviews on Google Business Profile can have a detrimental effect on a restaurant's reputation. If potential customers see that the last few reviews of a business were negative, it could easily discourage them from choosing that restaurant.

Therefore, it's crucial for restaurant owners to actively manage their Google Business Profile profile, respond to reviews, and consistently strive to provide excellent service and food.

Thankfully, there are negative review response examples that you can use to maintain your reputation, even if a bad one comes in. And if your Google reviews aren't showing up, here's why (and how to fit it) .

This Company Got 1,330% More Online Reviews

"If you want to grow your business, then you should implement NiceJob." -Victoria Westcott, Co-Founder, Oak Bay Clean

Yelp: Boosting Revenue with Positive Reviews

Yelp is another popular site where restaurant reviews can have a significant impact on a restaurant's revenue and reputation.

To make the most of your Yelp presence, you should claim your Yelp business listing and ensure your profile is complete and accurate to ensure the business' visibility.

Responding to reviews, either publicly or privately, can foster customer engagement and potentially persuade those who gave bad reviews to reconsider.

A well-optimized Yelp profile can result in increased customer satisfaction, more positive reviews, and ultimately, higher revenue.

Facebook: Harnessing Social Media Power

Facebook is another valuable restaurant review site, with 72% of consumers using it to decide where to eat. As such, having a restaurant Facebook page and collecting positive reviews is crucial to gain new customers . In addition to reviews, advertising on Facebook can tap into a massive, targeted audience and help drive even more business to a restaurant.

Furthermore, adding a "Start Order" button on a restaurant's Facebook page can provide customers with a convenient way to be redirected to the restaurant's online menu and quickly place an order. Responding to negative reviews on Facebook is also crucial in managing a restaurant's online reputation.

Actively engaging with customers who leave negative feedback helps ensure restaurant owners show that they value their customers and are committed to providing excellent service. In some cases, this proactive approach can even turn a bad review into a positive one.

Foursquare: City Guides and Analytics

Foursquare is another restaurant review site that works as a city guide, with an impressive 75 million tips to help users discover new restaurants and read reviews before visiting.

To maximize their presence on Foursquare, restaurant owners can search for their restaurant on the platform and claim it. After claiming their profile, they can fill it out and gain access to valuable restaurant marketing tools like Analytics, which can provide insights into customer behavior and preferences.

With its wide variety of listings and formidable online presence, Foursquare offers restaurant owners a great opportunity to attract more customers and boost their revenue.

The Infatuation (Zagat): Elite Review Platforms

Zagat and The Infatuation, which also acquired Zagat in March 2018 , are elite review platforms with exclusive listings to Google Business Profile profiles in 38 select US cities.

Restaurant owners looking to be featured on these platforms can contact them directly for a review. Being featured on these exclusive platforms can potentially boost a restaurant's search rankings, given their close connection with Google.

The Infatuation, in particular, stands out from other review sites due to its dedicated team of writers who provide expert reviews, rather than relying solely on customer feedback.

That's part of what made the Zagat acquisition a match made in heaven. Professional newspaper restaurant critics just weren't cutting it, so Tim Zagat decided to take restaurant reviews into his own hands and poll his friends.

This unique approach to restaurant reviews can provide potential customers with a more comprehensive and reliable assessment of a restaurant's quality, helping them make more informed decisions about where to dine.

Gayot: A Comprehensive Rating System

Gayot is a unique restaurant review site with a comprehensive 20-point rating scale that considers more than just food quality. Although restaurants cannot list themselves on Gayot for free, they can still benefit from its rating system and reputation as a reliable guide for discerning diners.

Founded by a famous French food critic, Gayot offers its own reviews and ratings of restaurants, providing potential customers with a more in-depth assessment of a restaurant's quality. While securing a spot on this exclusive platform might not be easy, it can certainly help boost a restaurant's reputation and attract discerning customers looking for a truly exceptional dining experience.

AllergyEats: Catering to Special Dietary Needs

AllergyEats is a US-only, crowdsourced restaurant review site that focuses on helping users with food allergies find allergy-friendly restaurants based on user submissions. In addition to their desktop app, AllergyEats is also available for free in both the iTunes and Google Play stores.

By providing ratings based on their ability to accommodate specific food allergies, AllergyEats empowers users to make informed decisions about where to eat while also helping restaurants cater to this growing customer segment.

Restaurant owners who cater to customers with allergy-related dietary restriction can create a strong relationship with diners who become part of a loyal customer base because it shows that the owner goes the extra mile and truly cares about providing an awesome and safe dining experience.

There are many more places you can access online restaurant reviews, but we love the ones we've listed above. These restaurant review websites not only help customers find the best dining options, but also provide restaurant owners with insights into their business.

Actively managing your online reputation and engaging with customers on popular restaurant review websites will significantly improve their chances of success in today's competitive market.

Online Delivery Platforms as Restaurant Review Sites

Online delivery platforms such as GrubHub, UberEats, Skip the Dishes, and Postmates also function as restaurant review sites, with user reviews playing a significant role in determining a restaurant's success on these platforms.

Like the restaurant review websites we talked about above, actively monitoring and responding to reviews on online delivery platforms allows restaurant owners to address customer concerns, improve their service, and ultimately attract and retain more customers.

Similar to traditional review sites, maintaining a positive online reputation on delivery platforms is key to a restaurant's success in today's competitive market. And with more and more people leveraging restaurant delivery apps, they'll likely become an even more important ranking factor.

Managing Your Restaurant's Online Reputation

In today's digital age, managing the online reputation of your restaurant is paramount to success. With so many review sites and platforms available, it's essential for restaurant owners to actively monitor and respond to reviews, both positive and negative, in order to attract and retain customers. Local listing management is crucial for restaurants to maintain accurate and complete business information across multiple directories and social media platforms.

Investing in a management solution can help automate the process of local listing management for multi-location restaurant brands or franchises, ensuring that all business information is up-to-date and accurate across various platforms. This can not only improve a restaurant's search engine rankings, but also generate more reviews and revenue.

Responding to negative reviews is particularly important in managing a restaurant's online reputation. By actively engaging with customers who leave negative feedback, restaurant owners can demonstrate their commitment to providing excellent service and potentially turn a bad review into a good one.

In the end, it's all about providing a memorable and satisfying dining experience for every customer, and managing your restaurant's online reputation is a crucial part of that process.

Turn Your Reputation into Your Ultimate Sales Tool

Learn how to build trust and attract more customers with our complete guide to reputation marketing.

Good Luck on Your Restaurant Review Site Journey

In conclusion, the world of restaurant reviews is vast and ever-evolving, with a multitude of platforms available for both customers and restaurant owners. By understanding the importance of these review sites and actively managing their online presence, restaurant owners can significantly improve their chances of succeeding against restaurant competition .

From Google Business Profile and Yelp to Facebook and niche platforms like AllergyEats, each review site offers unique opportunities for restaurants to connect with customers, build a positive reputation, and ultimately, increase their bottom line.

As a restaurant owner or a discerning diner, it's vital to stay informed about the latest trends and developments in the world of restaurant reviews. This comprehensive guide to the best restaurant review sites for 2024 is just the beginning – keep exploring, engaging, and evolving to make the most of your restaurant's online presence and ensure a satisfying dining experience for every customer.

Frequently Asked Questions about Restaurant Review Sites

Where do people write restaurant reviews.

People write restaurant reviews on a variety of online review sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google Reviews. By reading reviews from customers, restaurants can gain valuable insight into their patrons’ experiences and use it to improve service and hospitality.

So get the word out — let your customers be your greatest advocate by writing restaurant reviews!

What is the most popular restaurant review app?

Answer to this question will vary depending on which restaurant review site drives the most business. But looking at net number of reviews generated, the most popular restaurant review app is Yelp, with over 199 million reviews of businesses worldwide.

It's the perfect guide to help you find the perfect place to eat, shop, drink, explore, and relax! Yelp is easy to use and provides detailed reviews from real customers. It's a great way to get an honest opinion about a business before you visit.

Jordan Nisbet is an SEO and content marketing leader who specializes in the SaaS and EdTech industries. He enjoys hiking, writing children’s books, and spending time with his wife and kid.

Like what you see? Share with a friend.

Related articles.

5 Tips to Get More Google Restaurant Reviews & Positive Ratings

How to Unlock Restaurant SEO Success: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Outsmart Restaurant Competition with Competitive Analysis

Why nicejob.