I’m a creature of comfort. I can lull myself into a sense of security by ordering the same few things I usually do whenever I eat out or have some food delivered. But variety is the spice of life, as they say, and for a lot of people, I know variety can be scary.
Spontaneity can lead us to plenty of surprises, but I can understand how it may not be some people’s cup of tea. Planning out a restaurant trip—whether solo, with a loved one, or with your family—can also generate a lot of excitement! In a bid to discover more places to eat at, here are five tips I keep in mind whenever I’m planning out my next foodie excursion:
1. Check the reviews
This might sound like a no-brainer. Of course, before you decide to spend your money, or even time, on something, you’d want to know whether it’s worth it. The internet has no shortage of people voicing out their opinions on various things, but if it’s a special occasion or a splurge, we ought to be more careful of the kinds of reviews we’re trusting.
Google Maps
Over the past years, more and more people have been posting reviews on Google Maps, and it has now become an indispensable resource for good finds in metropolitan areas. It’s quite surprising to me, because just a few years ago, I would only think of using Google Maps to check where a place was, not howit was, or what the experience was like. Thanks to Google’s initiatives to drive user content on their site, and the accessibility of Google Maps via the mobile app, more and more people have embraced using this platform to rate their eats.
Review sites can be tricky, though. Many of us are no strangers to five-star ratings that actually had more negative things to say, or reviews that don’t have sufficient information to justify the evaluation. So, don’t just look at the number of stars! Try to look at reviews in more detail, too.
A good benchmark I’ve found in Manila is 4.0 stars. That is not to say places lower than that aren’t worth considering, but for diners with a lower risk appetite, it’s good to start your search here.
Other places may have a lower “threshold”; for example, Japan might have a lot of places with 3.5 out of 5 stars, but a 3.5 to them is probably a 4 to most people, according to a lot of travelers. This is because they tend to be more conservative with their ratings; to them, rating every good experience a 5/5 might cause the high rating to lose its meaning. It’s truly fascinating how even review culture can differ from one place to another!
For those with a more adventurous side, or those who want to explore a certain area, you can also specify a place and then search that area for nearby restaurants using the map view. This is also a good opportunity to check a restaurant’s menu and price points, as well as photos of the place itself (are they al frescodining only, what does the storefront look like, what’s the ambiance like, etc.)
Reels, Tiktoks, and other social media compilations
Social media is a great place to rack up some ideas as people who post on these platforms can also categorize places according to the area or type of cuisine. The younger generation in particular seems to be more attuned to short-form content, and one benefit to this is that you would be able to find some frequently recommended places from multiple people in a short span of time!
You can search using hashtags (Instagram) or through keywords similar to a Google search (Tiktok.) Some hashtags to get you started are #foodieph, #foodtripph, #discovermnl, or #manilaeats. Of course, you can try different variations depending on where you are! Once you get the ball rolling on these sites, the algorithm will do its job.
I know a lot of people tend to knock influencer-recommended places, but I believe there is still some merit to a place that’s been recommended by, like, three people who don’t know each other. That said, be careful of commonly recommended or hyped-up places as they do tend to be crowded! You can opt to dine at a less-crowded time of the day, like 2 PMfor lunch, or 5 PMfor an early dinner. You can also reserve ahead of time to avoid long lines.
Blogs and media sites
If you’re more of a fan of the written word, blogs (like mine!) or media sites such as When In Manila or even news sites like Rappler or The Inquirer offer good value to your search as well. With a longer space to lay out all of their thoughts, blogs or articles can get into the nitty-gritty details of their restaurant experience. Article formats may also vary, as some might prefer to list down multiple restaurants in a specific area for one article as opposed to an in-depth review for a specific restaurant.
Food blogs may even have a niche you’re into, a style you like, or a taste similar to yours based on previous posts, so this can add a bit of a personal touch to the recommendation. Media and news sites, especially listicles, are good starting points and also have a degree of credibility as established content publishers. However, you might want to do a bit more research in case you run into mega lists, as there’s no actual guarantee that the writer has truly tried out all of the restaurants they’ve featured.
If you ever end up somewhere due to a blogger’s recommendation though, be sure to leave a comment or get in touch! We always love hearing about your own experiences, and hope it’s as good as ours was.
2. Promos
Photo by abillion via Unsplash
Call me a cheapskate, but I’m not one to pass up on a good discount. Here, I’ll list some potential sources of promos or discounts you can take advantage of when deciding where to go for your next date, friend group catch-up session, or just a “treat yourself” day.
I’m not sponsored by any of the companies I’ll be mentioning below, and they’re also not arranged in any particular order of preference. These are just the resources I’ve either researched about or personally used over the past few years.
Eatigo
This app lists restaurants around the metro that offer a discount when you’re dining in during off-peak hours. They even have hotel buffets up to 50% off! Personally, I’ve never had any issues redeeming a reservation through this app as restaurants are more than happy to honor these.
Booky
Booky used to be a subscription-based app but it appears they’ve put that on pause since 2 years ago (good news for those on a budget!) This is based on one of their FAQ articles that was last updated 2 years ago as of writing. That doesn’t mean their deals are gone, though! They still have some great food deals like buy-one-take-ones you can snap up free of charge on the app. Just make sure to read when the deals can be claimed.
They also have partnerships with different payment platforms or banks like GCash, and UnionBank, so this is definitely good news for account holders!
Grab
Are you surprised that Grab’s not just good for food delivery? So am I! The super app has also been branching out into the dine-in space, and they have discounts for sit-down restaurants. The best part is that lots of them don’t even have a minimum purchase requirement. Just go to your Grab app, tap “All” on the upper menu bar, and select “Dine-in.”
This is not something I’ve tried for myself yet, as they didn’t have that many offerings yet the last time I checked. However, they now have around thrice as much as they did, and I’m more than happy to recommend Grab as a long-time user of theirs. I also generally have good experiences with their Customer Support, so if you run into a problem while redeeming your discount, I believe they’ll be able to fix you right up. I am also looking forward to using this feature myself, and I’ll be sure to write about it when that day comes.
Credit cards and other payment platforms
I am guilty of not maximizing my credit card promos, and I do hope you’re not that type of person, but if you are, then this is your reminder to check what’s available. This is especially if your credit card is more focused on lifestyle, or dining.
Your bank should have a credit card promos section on their website, or you can also follow them on their social media accounts to stay updated. Be sure to read the fine print on these ones, though! If it sounds too good to be true, there are probably some conditions attached to it.
Some cards, like BPI, even have a reward points app of their own. BPI’s is called VYBE, which you can download on the App Store/Play Store. Points you’ve accumulated through credit card usage can be exchanged for points to redeem discounts for restaurants they’ve partnered with. The redemption points are pretty steep though, ranging from around 1,000 to 2,500 Philippine pesos.
Other apps with payment platforms attached to them also tend to have similar offerings or rewards point systems, such as Grab, GCash, or Maya. Be sure to check up on your points every so often, and that you’re on top of those expiry dates.
3. Reservations
Now this might not apply to all restaurants you’ll think of going to, but I seriously always run into this problem: I get so excited to eat somewhere, only to find out, once I’m there, that the restaurant’s fully booked. This is especially true during peak hours, weekends, and in high-traffic places like malls, or in central business district areas like Bonifacio Global City (BGC). If you’re going in already hungry, running into a situation like this can put a damper on your dinner.
Thankfully, most restaurants are reachable one way or another. Their phone number is most likely listed on Google Maps, or they might have an Instagram or Facebook page you can message. Just make sure you have a lead time of around 12 hours to avoid stressing out while waiting for a response. Remember, a person taking care of social media accounts or reservations at a restaurant might also be preoccupied with catering to guests who are already there and might not have their eyes on the phone around the clock.
Bonus: Food Restrictions
I don’t have any allergies, thankfully. However, I couldbe eating with other people and they would have dietary restrictions I’d need to consider when picking a restaurant. For example, an older companion might not do well at a place that serves mostly fried food, or a friend might be concerned about whether a place is halal.
Some kitchens might also use the same utensils to cook food with potential allergens. So, for example, if the restaurant serves seafood, your cousin who is allergic to shrimp might still need to be careful even if they’re ordering a chicken meal.
It’s best to ask the restaurant in advance what accommodations they might have. Being aware and considerate of your party’s preferences, needs, and restrictions makes for a smoother dining experience.
In summary…
The three main things I take into consideration are reviews, promos, and reservations. Going in blind is definitely a valid option, but if you’re erring on the cautious side, hoping to impress a date or a friend that’s in town, or looking for a stress-free night out with your loved ones, I hope this guide helps you consider your options.
What’s your preferred way to find new places to dine in? How did you stumble upon what’s now one of your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments below!
Leave a Reply