What is the #1 sign NOT to dine?
Have you ever been to a new town, looking for a good place to eat? Read on and I’ll give you my number 1 tip on what to look for.
You know how they say, “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Well, pardon my French, but that’s just PC bullshit. We inherently judge everything in life. While we may not always be right, it’s a survival technique that takes us back to our days as cavemen. On the occasion when conventional judging is deemed unfair (in other words, when an entity is better than it looks), typically a positive reputation is generated so to overcome its seemingly unappealing appearance.
When it comes to patronizing a restaurant, I have one guiding principle that has served me well. If you want to avoid a bad restaurant experience…what is the #1 sign to look for? It’s the sign! From my experience, if a restaurateur does not take care of his sign, his people will not take care of you. A bad “sign” tells me they don’t care about quality or cleanliness. A sign is your face…it’s almost the first thing that people take notice of. If the sign hasn’t been washed, painted or cared for, it’s a bad omen for things to come when you enter.
Again, I realize there are exceptions to the rule (the proverbial “hole-in-wall” is a perfect example), but if you want to avoid a bad restaurant experience, taking a close look at the sign may help. Case in point…how often have you heard or said this… “That looks like a good bottle of wine?” “Looks good?” How on earth can a bottle of wine “look good?” It’s because we taste with our eyes first.
Tell me I’m wrong? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Mike Shubic
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12 Comments
I completely disagree. I’m obsessed with old neon, and some of the best diner food I’ve ever had is because I’ve pulled over to admire a great old diner sign.
Hi Jenee…thanks so much for posting your thoughts. The point I was trying to make was directed at signs that have not been maintained…not old ones. I too love the old signs, but all too often from my experience, a bad sign leads to a bad meal. Granted, I am a bit of a foodie, so my expectations may not always be met. Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate all comments, suggestions and feedback. Cheers, Mike
I, too, am fond of old neon signs and there are still many around gleaming from loving care and attention. Those that are rusty with peeling paint and smudgy glass suggest, as Mike comments, an unclean environment inside and when that is the case the food is generally poor as well. Wow! Such vagueness; I agree with Mike 100%.
Hi Jane! Thank you so much for your comment. And, for your support. 🙂 Ciao, Mike
I personally love an opportunity to disagree but I completely agree with your sentiment, including the PC BS but I won’t go there. You validated your opinion by stating that there are indeed exceptions. If a restaurant owner doesn’t clean the exterior, imagine the interior. Blah!
lol…thank you Carylee! Thank you for stopping by and posting your thoughts. I especially appreciate it when people agree with me. 🙂
I think not only is a sign that has not been kept up is a suggestion that the restaurant might not be the best one to go into, but also an empty parking lot when it should have cars in it. If the restaurant is not kept up and the food is not good, then there will not be many cars in the parking lot.
Hey Nancy…yeah, you’re probably right on that one too. Thanks for stopping by and sharing. Cheers, Mike
This article is so true. I’m more likely to go to a franchise restaurant because their signs are clean and familiar.
Hi Daniel…thanks for your comments and for stopping by. Cheers, Mike
Love old signs. Agree that how a place looks on the outside is often a glimpse into the interior but mostly love the way you asked for interaction. And got it.
Hope you’re well!
Jude
Hey Jude…thanks so much for stopping by and posting your thoughts. All the best, Mike