1. Read the following texts.

1. CHEZ GERARD

Cuisine: French Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube

Total Rating: 100 / 100 (Individual ratings out of 5)

Staff Friendliness: 5 Staff Attentiveness: 5

Service Speed: 5 Ambience: 5

Restaurant Cleanliness: 5 Toilet Cleanliness: 5

Food Quality: 5 Drink Quality: 5

Value for Money: 5 Overall Ranking: 5

Review by Darren

We had a great night at Chez Gerard in Covent Garden. The minute we walked in
we felt welcome, the receptionist greeted us even though we had not booked she
managed to fit us in. We ordered our wine and within a few minutes the wine had
arrived. I went for the steak that was cooked to perfection, it tasted fantastic. My
wife had the Confit de Canard (Duck) that came with sauteed potatoes with onion
and lardons. For dessert I ordered the Chocolate Mousse which was light and tasty;
my wife the Ice cream. The waiter was friendly and professional. The service was
excellent. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Review by: Vicky, from Kent Rated: 98 / 100

Cost per head = £30.

It is a superb location. Staff are very approachable, helpful and professional.

Karolina was our waitress and made our time at Chez Gerard most enjoyable. The
food was excellent too.

Review by: Sally, from Hertfordshire Rated: 42 / 100

Cost per head = £30

Terrible service - a drink was missing from the drinks order a main course from the
food order (two different waiters!!). The food was not that bad.
 2. IBERICA

Iberica Cuisine: Spanish

195 Great Portland Street, London Nearest Station: Great Portland St Tube

Total Rating: 34 / 100 (Individual ratings out of 5)

Staff Friendliness: 1 Staff Attentiveness: 1

Service Speed: 1 Ambience: 1

Restaurant Cleanliness: 1 Toilet Cleanliness: 2

Food Quality: 3 Drink Quality: 4

Value for Money: 1 Overall Ranking: 2

Review by Brian from London

Yes, and frankly, it was awful. This was probably one of the worst Spanish restaurants I have been
to. I think it was really expensive and the quality was just not good. I found the service to be really
slow and not friendly - gave us a really nasty attitude. This is definitely a place where I will not
come back.

Review by Javier Peña from Spain

Cost per head = £25

Authentic Spanish food at its best. All products are imported from Spain, really genuine. The pork
belly tapa is a mouthwatering experience and the rice pudding just delicious. The Spanish wines
are real jewels. Great place, Spain in style. I have been waiting for this over 20 years!

Javier Peña www.voiceofspain.com

Review by Mary from London

I enjoyed a delightful lunch at this restaurant today, 17 April. The fried artichokes were
featherlight and delicious. My octopus with potatoes and chili excellent and a generous helping.
My glass of white wine also very good and a very generous glass. Reasonably priced and friendly,
efficient service. Companion loved his freshly cooked chicken with rice.

Review by Roger

I am an avid Spanish restaurant goer, and can honestly say this is by far and away the best in
London at this present momento. Fine food, fine wines, great service.

Review by David from Norfolk

Fantastic hot spot in London. After we discovered it on a Wednesday we went back four more
times within 3 days! We love it. Fabulous food (we had just returned from 5 days in Bilbao so have
something to compare it with). Wines interesting and we particularly like the way you are
encouraged to taste the wine before buying by the glass. Staff efficient, friendly, so too the other
guests. An excellent experience. Certainly recommend it to anybody and we will be back.
 3. ZORBA’S GREEK TAVERN

Zorba’s Greek Tavern Cuisine: Greek

36 Leinster Terrace Nearest Station: Bayswater Tube

Total Rating: 0 / 100 (Individual ratings out of 5)

Staff Friendliness: 0 Staff Attentiveness: 0

Service Speed: 0 Ambience: 0

Restaurant Cleanliness: 0 Toilet Cleanliness: 0

Food Quality: 0 Drink Quality: 0

Value for Money: 0 Overall Ranking: 0

Review by LINDA from St.

Very disappointing. The owner was exceptionally rude to me and to the staff. The place
was virtually empty when I came, alone, at 0700PM and a staff member asked for my
table preference. I asked for a booth. After being seated at the booth, and having been
served the olives (which I did not want) and a drink, the owner had the cajones to make
me move to a table in the middle of the room. The restaurant was still nearly empty!! He
was demeaning and excessively rude to the staff. I ended up choosing the least expensive
ítems on the menu, refused to pay for the olives, but gave my server a tip that was larger
than the total of the meal. No one should be forced to put up with that kind of treatment
- GO ANYWHERE ELSE!!

Review by Andrea from London

Ideal for a chapter of THE WORST DINNER EXPERIENCE OF YOUR LIFE! The owner was
rude (tried to make us order whatever HE wanted!) and service was extremely slow. And
don’t ask me about the leak on the ceiling and the dreadful singer who interrupts your
dinner and then asks for a trip!

They also bring your bread and olives as soon as you seat at the table and then they
charge for them on your bill. Food quality and cleanliness of the place were not better
(sticky menu, dirty floor…).

Service was so bad that we questioned the 12.5% service charge that had been added to
our bill. But we were told that the charge IS NOT DISCRETIONARY even though we’d been
mistreated and half of the things we ordered weren’t available! There’s a much better
Greek restaurant just a few metres away, on the same road. If in doubt: GO TO THE
OTHER ONE!
 4. CURRY LEAF

Curry Leaf Cuisine: Indian

18 Charlotte Street Nearest Station: Goodge St Tube

Total Rating: 38 / 100 (Individual ratings out of 5)

Staff Friendliness: 2 Staff Attentiveness: 1

Service Speed: 3 Ambience: 1

Restaurant Cleanliness: 3 Toilet Cleanliness: 4

Food Quality: 2 Drink Quality: 1

Value for Money: 1 Overall Ranking: 1

Review by Steve from London

OK food - watch the bill, all shorts of things creep onto it if you’re not looking. And the
service charge is… certainly ambitious.

5. HARE AND TORTOISE

Hare and Tortoise Cuisine: Chinese

11-13 Brunswick Centre

Bloomsbury Centre

Total Rating: 30 / 100 (Individual ratings out of 5)

Staff Friendliness: 0 Staff Attentiveness: 0

Service Speed: 4 Ambience: 2

Restaurant Cleanliness: 3 Toilet Cleanliness: 2

Food Quality: 2 Drink Quality: 0

Value for Money: 2 Overall Ranking: 0

Review by Nigel

If you are looking for bland food and customer abuse, visit Hare and Tortoise at Brunswick Center
near Russell Square station. Though Hare and Tortoise have a long list of dishes to select from, the
food is bland and not authentic. The customer service is kind of appalling and the management
does not care about customer’s experience and is ready to yell at you if you object to the way you
are treated. I would highly recommend not to waste your money at this venue.
 6. NEW CULTURE REVOLUTION

157-159 Notting Hill Gate

Cuisine: Chinese

Tel: 020 7313 9688

Nearest Station: Notting Hill Gate Tube

Total Rating: 82 / 100 (Individual ratings out of 5)

Staff Friendliness: 4 Staff Attentiveness: 4

Service Speed: 5 Ambience: 3

Restaurant Cleanliness: 5 Toilet Cleanliness: 5

Food Quality: 4 Drink Quality: 4

Value for Money: 3 Overall Ranking: 4

Review by James from London

This venue has somewhat changed over the years. Good food generally; bit mean on
distribution of prawns to dishes (which is a regular gripe of mine), though.

Otherwise dishes are served hot and pretty tasty. Soups and broths are also well worth a
try.

2. What adjectives and expressions do the reviewers use to give a positive or

negative opinion of a particular restaurant?

Area Positive Words / Expressions Negative Words / Expressions

Food
Service
Place / Ambience
Price

3. What expressions use reviewers to recommend or not recommend a restaurant?

4. Read the following review.

OLD GLORY ALL AMERICAN BARBECUE

The atmosphere is very casual, so you don’t need to get dressed up to go. As a matter
of fact, the food is so messy, you’ll want to dress in jeans. The decor of the restaurant
echoes the BBQ theme: exposed brick, wooden floors, paper table covers… You get the
idea. Most of the food (at least, my favorite food) is pretty careful with wearing long,
loose sleeves. The servers are all dressed comfortably in jeans and T-shirts, and are all
very friendly. Even thought Old Glory is located in Georgetown, you don’t have to
dress like a yuppy to fit in there. As a matter of fact, if you dress in a suit and tie, you’ll
be the one that stands out!

Like I said, the food at Old Glory is AWESOME. It’s totally worth the moderate price.
And, if you’re budget-minded, you and your friend can always order a full rack of ribs
and share. For sides, I recommend their mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, and
baked beans. Their corn bread, which they automatically serve first, is absolutely to
die for. If you don’t like ribs, there are other entrees to choose from, too: steaks,
chicken (though sometimes dry), lamb… You will be sure to find something that you
will enjoy.

Vegetarians beware, though. There isn’t a very big selection for you, if a selection at
all. Then again, a vegetarian in a BBQ joint is sort of like a fish out of water…

Reservations aren’t necessary, especially since they aren’t taken. On the weekends,
the wait for the food is pretty long (about 1/2 an hour), but there is so much going on
in the restaurant that you don’t even notice. The bar is constantly packed, especially
when there is some sort of sports game on television.

There are tables on the first floor. These tables are usually noisiest, as they are right
near the bar. It’s not a very large restaurant, so you’ll hear noise regardless of where
you are seated. Personally, I prefer the small dining area upstairs. It’s just a little
quieter and more intimate. It’s much easier to carry on a conversation up there!

There desserts are pretty good, although I got sick from the Key Lime Pie. For kids,
there is always Worms & Dirt -- Some sort of chocolate cookie pudding with gummy
worms. And, if you don’t like their desserts, there’s a Ben & Jerry’s right next door.

After dinner, you’re given lollipops and wet-naps to clean your hands. If you go to the
bathroom, there’s a little mouthwash dispenser, too! Old Glory is awesome. It’s
excellent reputation is well-deserved.

Recommended: Yes
Kid Friendliness: No

Vegetarian Friendly: No

Best Suited For: Friends

5. Writing: a restauran review

Now use the information above to participate in a web fórum about restaurants. Write
a review of the restaurant referred to in the previous activity.

Remember to talk about:

1. Location

Where is located? Is it hard to find? Is it a long drive? Do you have to make

reservations in advance? How long is the wait on a weeknight? On a weekend? What
hours is the restaurant open?

2. What is the dress code?

Perhaps this seems like a silly question to ask in a separate paragraph, but dresscode is
something that many restaurants take seriously -- Of course, you don’t have to write a
dress code for fast food or chain restaurants.

3. Describe the atmosphere.

Is it kid-friendly? Is it dark? Is it fancy? What is the decor like? Is it loud? The

atmosphere of a restaurant is very important, you may like to share an intimate
conversation. Some people prefer noisy, trendy spots. If you have children you will
appreciate it being kid-friendly. Even if you don’t have kids, you should mention this.

4. Describe the menu.

You certainly don’t have to list everything on the menu. You do, however, want to
mention the different courses that they have. Do they serve appetizers? Do they serve
desserts? What is the selection like? Are there any specialties? What are your
recommendations? Is there a kids or a seniors menu? Are they vegetarian friendly? Is
there an “early bird special” or a special “complete dinner” menu? What is included
with the meal? Is there anything that people should avoid?

5. What did you order?

This is to show the experience that you had with your own food. What did you order?
Was is served at the appropriate temperatura? Be sure to be descriptive here. How did
the food taste? What was the quality of the food?
6. Describe the service.

Describe the service that you encountered during your visit. Were the servers and
hosts polite and helpful? Did they go out of their way to ensure a good visit? Were
they friendly? Was the service efficient? Did you have to wait a long time for anything?
If you think that things should have been done that weren’t done, mention them.
What would you have done to make things better?

7. Price

How much did you spend on your bill? Is the price comparable to the food and service?
What is the average price per person? What does the price include?

8. Overall / Conclusion

How was your experience with the restaurant you visited? Would you ever go back?
Why or why not? Would you recommend this restaurant to anyone? What type of
person would enjoy this restaurant?