19 Subtle Signs That Often Signal That A Restaurant Won't Be Worth Your Time Or Money

Recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to share the subtle signs that a restaurant won't be worth your time or money. Here's what you should look out for next time you dine out:

1."The table is dirty when you're seated. Just went to a place that has only been open a few months and the booth had crumbs on the seat. And there was a dirty napkin under the table. Not a great first impression."

2."If you walk in and it doesn't smell like food."

—bloodwynne

3."When they dim the lights too much, so you don't see how grimy the room is. When they make the music too loud, so as to turnover customers faster."

4."If the front of house and back of house don't seem to be in sync, or there's no teamwork vibe, that's always a red flag to me. You don't have to always have fun at work, but I notice when the energy isn't there, and it usually affects my experience. Most of the time it's coming from the top and it’s no one person's fault, just stagnant bad vibes. Hard to shake! Restaurant work is TOUGH WORK, and you need to feel supported by your coworkers. If the culture is off, everything else will be too."

—cperryrun

5."It's been said before but it's true: the menu is too long and/or encompasses multiple different styles."

6."Your server doesn't seem excited or knowledgeable about any of the food or how it's made."

—fireflyaway

7."Check the bathroom. The bathroom is either cleaner than or as clean as the kitchen because customers see the bathroom, not the kitchen."

8."The servers have to wear name tags."

—amberinthetardis

9."If a Mexican restaurant charges for chips and salsa? Telltale sign this ain't the one..."

10."When you're at an ethnic restaurant and read the ingredients listed in the dish has very little in common with the authentic version, it's not a good sign. Also, if they don't mention the specific cheese they use in their dish it probably means they use something cheap."

—juvebuffon

11."When the aesthetics are clearly to get IG photos. All of the energy, time, and money was put into making it visually compelling and the food is an afterthought."

12."Old but true advice: if the view from a restaurant is great, the food doesn't have to be."

—buzzcat99

13."The restaurant practices extreme understaffing. If it's a restaurant or a fast food place and one employee is doing all the work, it's probably not worth it."

14."Spelling mistakes. More than one tiny error and I'm out. If you can't be bothered to run it past several people to check then what other things are you not taking care of? Yes, your menu says a lot about your priorities."

—d4979c4387

15."Well, one sign of a sub-par restaurant is if everybody eating there is the same demographic, such as all old people, or all frat boys. It suggests the places caters to people for reasons unrelated to food quality."

16."The top sign that a restaurant is going to be questionable is if during peak meal times the parking lot or interior are empty. It means the only people eating there are folks who don't know better. This has been honed over years of family road trips across the country, and is effective in both big cities and small towns."

—Anonymous

17."Unhappy staff or a lot of turnover with staff. When there is low morale, it's usually a sign of bad management, which likely means they don't give a s--t about staff, cleanliness, or quality."

18."Watch where the waitstaff place their hands on glasses or plates when serving drinks/food. I've seen plenty of staff go thumb in on food or put their hands over the rim of a glass to pass it. Nasty."

—Anonymous

19."Professional cook here! I look for authenticity. For example: if I go to a Vietnamese restaurant I don't want to see chicken tenders and fries on the menu. Clean bathroom, clean kitchen and the opposite is true as well. Be curious, stay away from overly crowded places and try the hole in the wall restaurant instead. Stay away from places that are too 'aesthetic.' They probably put more effort into the decor than the food. If the waiters seem in a rush to get you out of there (in Europe at least), take your business somewhere you can relax and have a nice meal without being rushed. Staff that seem to get along and have a good time is a plus, oh and please always be extra kind to your servers!"

What are some other signs of a bad restaurant? Share what you always keep an eye out for in the comments!

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.