9 insider tips: if you see this in a restaurant, GET OUT
Strange city, strange restaurant. How do you know if you’re in the right place? Hospitality staff don’t hesitate for a moment—they can see at a glance when something isn’t right. Take advantage of their tips!
Pros from the restaurant business know exactly what to look out for when they walk into a new place. While I naively think: how nice that there’s so much choice on this menu, they know: it all comes from the freezer.
9 insider tips: run, don’t walk!
These insider tips come from chefs and front-of-house staff who know exactly how everything works.
Do the napkin test
Is there one of those machines where you can pour your own soft drink? Grab a napkin and stuff it a little way into the tap where the soda comes out. Look at the napkin: is it pink or orange? That’s a type of mold that grows in those machines when they aren’t cleaned often enough. Is it brown? That’s probably cola, but then you also know that the machine isn’t being cleaned properly. And that ice cube machine? Take a look inside; you’ll often see a green deposit if it isn’t scrubbed out regularly.
Vegan? Not everywhere
A lot of kosher food isn’t really kosher, and vegan dishes aren’t truly vegan in restaurants that don’t specialize in them. The falafel, for example, is fried in a pan that has also been used to fry meat. Washing it in between? Of course not—someone just runs a wad of kitchen paper through it.
Ten people waiting ahead of you
If you walk into a busy, packed restaurant, take a good look at the tables. If you only see people still waiting for their food, that means the kitchen is in deep trouble. Get out while you still can!
That comes from the freezer
A large menu is a red flag. With so many different choices, the chances that everything is homemade are slim. It probably comes straight from the wholesaler or from the Ice Palace.
You’ve never eaten anything this salty
Take a look at the salt shakers on the table. If they’re dirty, the kitchen probably is too. The same goes for the restroom: if it isn’t clean, you already know enough.
Authentic guests
Look at the other guests. A Thai restaurant full of Thai guests? Probably a good kitchen serving authentic dishes.
This is the real deal
Is the restaurant untidy and unclean? Sticky tables, clutter on the windowsill, crumbs on your chair, dusty floral arrangements? Time to leave—the kitchen is probably even dirtier.
A peek into the kitchen
Open kitchens are all the rage. Are you visiting a new restaurant and unable to look into the kitchen? Not a good sign; they probably have all kinds of things to hide.
Milk is good for…
Can you see the coffee machine behind the bar? Take a look at the little tube they use to steam milk. If it’s white, it isn’t being cleaned properly. Milk remains inside, allowing bacteria to multiply rapidly. So don’t order coffee. And perhaps don’t order anything else either if they’re this careless about hygiene.
Also read:
- Chefs share 14 tips for cooking more easily and better
- 15 top tips from top chefs to help you shine in the kitchen
- These tips will help you make sure your kitchen is really clean
Source: Brightside
