Language for a review (restaurant)

Introduction
– give some basic info about the restaurant e.g. name, location, reason you decided
to visit it, maybe you heard something about the place before you actually visited
it, who visits the restaurant most often.
Phrases you can use in the introduction:
* it’s located/ situated in
* in the heart of / in the suburbs of
* it was recommended by/ it is a favourite hangout spot for people…/

In the 2nd and 3rd Paragraph:

– provide more details about food / prices
– you can also add comments about service / atmosphere

Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:

Writing about food
* a wide variety of mouth- watering starters/ main courses/ deserts
* I ordered steak sirloin accompanied by side dish of roasted asparagus
* main course consisted of
* to be starving hungry / to be dying of hunger
* poor quality/ overpriced/ reasonably priced/ good value for money/ pricy
* stodgy/ bland/ tasty/ delicious/ exquisite/ processed food
* home-made / take-away / ready meal
* large selection of …

Writing about staff

 * attentive/ friendly/ charming/ helpful/ caring

* forgettable/ accetable
* can hardly get a smile/ inattentive / slow/ disappointing

Writing about atmosphere/ decor

*magnificent decor/ modern/ antique/ cosy
* spacious / spotless
* dull/ dusty/ filthy
Writing about hotel / hotel room
*attractive/ magnificent/ disappointing settings
* indoor/outdoor/ heated swimming-pool
* entertainment / children’s club
* not worth the money
* book in advance
* noisy/ quiet rooms
* rough neighbourhood

In the last paragraph:

– include an overall opinion/or a recommendation, usually with justification
– you may also be asked to give reasons how it has influenced you, etc.
Phrases you can use to end the review
Making a recommendation
*I would highly / strongly recommend …
* I certainly wouldn’t recommend …
* I strongly advise you (not) to …
* Everyone should see / do / read this … immediately!
* … is not to be missed!
* You should give … a miss!
* Don’t bother reading / seeing / going …
* It is a classic of its kind/ It is sure to be a hit/ best -seller

Things you like:

- What really caught my eye
- What I enjoyed most about
- The thing I liked most
- I was really pleased with
- I was really keen on
- The coolest thing was
- The best thing about it is
- I got a lot of enjoyment out of
- I was completely gripped by

Things you don’t like:

- However, all that glitters is not gold.
- I was really disappointed by
- I didn’t enjoy
- I was quite unimpressed by
- The worst part/bit was
- It was simply not good enough
- The worst thing is
- Something I didn’t like was