Going out to eat is meant to be a pleasurable experience, but unfortunately, it doesnโt always turn out that way. Everything from rude wait staff to an uncleanly restaurant can really put a damper on the whole eating out thing. If only there was a way to avoid spending money on bad food and bad serviceโฆ
Well, have no fear! Weโve got the inside scoop of what to steer clear from when going out to eat. Here are 55 restaurant red flags to watch out for so you can have a 10/10 dining experience!



1. Check Out The Carpets
You can tell a lot about the cleanliness of a restaurant. If you notice the floors are disgusting it might be a telling sign of the overall experience. It shows that the staff could care less about what the customers walk into and the food probably isnโt something to write home to mom about.



2. Look For Local Health Inspector Reports
When youโre in a random city trying to grab a bite it can be tricky finding somewhere tasty. To make life easier, check that the restaurant has a recently passed health inspection report. Itโs better to be safe than sorry especially when eating somewhere new.


3. Avoid The Ice Machine
Affordable restaurants are great for so many reasons but sometimes cleaning tasks get missed. Ice buckets in restaurants can run into some hygiene issues. Even though ice and soda machines should get cleaned pretty often, kitchens can forget that important cleaning assignment.


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4. Smelly Seafood Restaurants
Itโs not rare to walk into a seafood restaurant that smells โfishyโ but itโs actually not the best sign. It usually means the fish is either bad or pretty close to it. When going to a seafood spot you really only want to smell a fresh ocean-like salt and an ocean breeze.


5. Say No To Cheap Steaks
Those $3-$5 steak deals seem so tempting, but trust me, itโs not worth it. You know what they sayโฆ you get what you pay for. Itโs likely that the steak is low-quality meat or on itโs way to going bad.


6. Ask For Oyster Origin
Oysters and other shellfish are known to give people food poisoning if they arenโt cleaned properly. Thatโs why itโs important for restaurants to know theyโre stuff about where their oysters and other fish are coming from. If you ask the server where the oysters or fish came from and they donโt know, itโs better to not take the chance. Your stomach will thank you later.


7. Avoid The Specials
When trying out a casual or new restaurant you might not want to pick something off of their specials list. Itโs usually a dish that they havenโt tried out a lot of or food that the chefs are trying to get rid of. Play it safe and go with the fan favorites!


8. Enormous Menu
Itโs nice that restaurants want to give their guests plenty of food options. But unfortunately, gigantic menus probably mean most of the food isnโt fresh. Itโs impossible for a restaurant to have a large variety of dishes and have it stay fresh, so youโre most likely paying for frozen food.


9. Food Pics Donโt Match
When you see pictures of menu items that donโt look like their actual food, it can be a big red flag. That restaurant is probably trying to cover up their not so pretty dishes and trick customers into buying their sub-par food.


10. Empty Restaurant
Trying a new restaurant is risky. Itโs best to watch out for an empty restaurant with a busy crowd everywhere else around it. The people obviously know something you donโt.


11. Staff Chemistry
When restaurant staff work well together and have a good system it usually means itโs a well ran establishment. If you go out somewhere and the staff is rude to their other coworkers, it might be a telling sign that they wonโt be that nice to you. It also might mean the kitchen and service staff donโt communicate well and which could result in a bad meal.


12. Lines, Lines, Lines
Long lines can be a real drag but it could mean itโs worth the wait. If people are willing to wait to eat there itโs got to be a delicious spot. On the other hand, restaurants with little to no line on a busy weekend could mean itโs not so tasty.


13. Staff Doesnโt Like The Food
When going out to eat itโs nice to know if your server actually enjoys the food. Watch to see if staff members are eating the restaurantโs food as well, thatโs a good sign that the food rocks. If the server admits they donโt like the food you might want to save the money and find a better spot.


14. Avoid Buffets and Salad Bars
As dreamy as all you can eat buffets sound, they arenโt the freshest foods. More often than not buffets have bland basic dishes that have been left out all day and constantly refilled. Depending on what time you get there, the food can get pretty soggy or dried up, and who knows how cleanly others have been dishing out their plates.


15. Server Suggestions
Servers are food salesmen, so itโs no surprise if they tell you the best thing on the menu is the most expensive thing on the menu. But other servers genuinely want you to have a pleasant experience. So when a server recommends a dish that is affordable and sounds delicious, definitely trust their judgment.


16. Skip The Lemons
Besides the lemons used in actual dishes, the oneโs servers use for beverages are stored in a container that sits on the sides of the coolers for who knows how long. Restaurants prepare their lemon and lime wedges in bulk and sometimes theyโre not rotated properly and can get old and unsanitary. So itโs best to just pass on the lemons.


17. Defending Bad Food
Usually, when something is wrong with your food the server is kind enough to take it back. But if you get into a situation where a server refuses to take back a dish or defends an inedible meal it probably means they canโt face the chef, which is definitely a red flag. Cut your losses and get out of there PRONTO.


18. Multi-Styled Restaurants
When restaurants try to have a wide variety of food styles it isnโt really the best way to go. For example, if an eatery serves both Mexican and Asian Fusion foods it might mean the kitchen is overdoing themselves and wonโt be the best quality. Play it safe and just pick a specific cuisine spot.


19. New Management Sign
Itโs common for a restaurant to be under new management. But when an establishment is advertising their new switch it can be a pretty bad sign.. literally. Itโs usually a warning that they might still be working out the kinks.


20. Offering Coupons For Positive Reviews
Yelp has really changed the game when it comes to finding a great spot to eat. But when you go to a restaurant and the staff is offering coupons for positive Yelp reviews, itโs probably not the best joint. They shouldnโt be bribing customers for good feedback, the experience should speak for itself.


21. Street Sign Guys
Eateries that have a waving sign mascot might not be doing too well. It shows that theyโd go to extensive lengths to get people in the door. So it might not be the most appetizing place to eat.


22. No Greetings
When you walk into a restaurant, being welcomed with a happy smile always makes you feel at home. But when it doesnโt happen, you can assume that their customer service is concerning. Be ready or turn around, it might not be the friendliest dining experience


23. Why Must We Wait?
When restaurants are on a wait, itโs usually because they donโt have any tables available. But if tables are open and your waiting, itโs a sign that the restaurant might not be up to demand. Something mustโve gone wrong, I sure hope itโs not food.


24. Busy Restaurant With No Help
Letโs be real, Restaurants can be hectic. The servers get slammed by a timely rush and if one thing goes wrong, it can delay everything. Luckily there are good managers out there. They can support their staff to ensure the customers donโt feel like they picked a bad restaurant. But when you notice a manager is lolly-gagging off to the side when servers need help itโs definitely a red flag.


25. Nasty Bathrooms
If youโre trying to spend money going out to eat, you want to have a clean experience. There are some warning signs that youโve got to watch out for and a filthy restroom is one of them. Itโs not like theyโre cooking in the bathroom but it does show how much they care about cleanliness for their guests. I mean who really wants to walk into a trashed bathroom when going out to eat?


26. Outside Conditions
Thereโs a lot to take into consideration when walking into a new grub spot. Itโs not the best sign if the outside of the restaurant has garbage all over the parking lot and a half hanging sign. You want to know the management cares about what people see before they walk in and trash isnโt one of them.


27. Reviews Can Be Deceiving
Donโt believe everything you read peeps. Restaurants can try to start the buzz about their restaurants by buying reviews from influencers. You canโt trust the reviews if theyโre being paid for. Be sure to be thorough with your research and check all the reviews, not just a few.


28. Donโt Fall Into The Trap
Tourist destinations can mean overpriced food and a chaotic atmosphere. The best restaurants are usually the ones the tourists arenโt at. Tap on a localโs shoulder and ask them where their favorite spot in town is and see what you can find.


29. Cashier To Cook
One person can truly do it all, but do you really want them to? The same person who is excepting my money is going to be the same person handling the food. This is a cause for worry, for the obvious fact; germs are everywhere.
Now in the next 25 slides, weโll be diving into fast food menu items that you shouldnโt spend a dime on. Weโve got the inside scoop of what really goes on and what youโre eating!


30. Burger Kingโs Fish Sandwich
There are some menu items you definitely want to stay away from, and Burger Kingโs fish sandwich is one of those. Of course, theyโre not well-known for there fish and itโs rarely getting sold. What ends up happening is their frozen fish ends up sitting on a shelf for who knows how long. No thank you.


31. Auntie Anneโs Jumbo Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel Dog
If youโre on a diet this is the LAST bite you want to grab. This pretzel dog has 650 calories, 31 g of fat, and 1,360 mg of sodium. Thatโs enough to leave your arteries crying for help.


32. Starbucks Food
Starbucks has some pretty expensive food options and turns out it isnโt great quality. All of the food is pre-packaged and frozen and definitely not worth the $$.


33. Subway Tuna Sandwich
Subway has all kinds of sandwich fixins but youโll probably want to steer clear of the tuna. Itโs usually sitting out for long periods of time and rarely gets replaced or refreshedโฆ Just make your own tuna sandwich at home.


34. Arbyโs Roast Beef
Itโs a big bummer when your main food item is something that people really shouldnโt eat. Arbyโs is known for itโs roast beef, but the truth is it starts out as a paste and then gets dried out in the oven. Thatโs some less than fresh quality.


35. Chick Fil A โGluten Freeโ
Everyone knows it, Chick-Fil-A is one of the best at what they do. The chicken sandwich is fast and friendly. But unfortunately for the non-gluten community, they canโt always be trusted. To properly separate you have to clean your grill constantly and at times it just doesnโt happen


36. Churchโs Chicken Cobb Sandwich
Healthy options are hard to find at some fast food chains. So why not try a Churchโs Chicken chicken and veggie sandwich? Well, itโs not as healthy as it would seem, with 810 calories with 1,460 mg of sodium. My hearts aching just thinking about it.


37. Buffalo Wild Wings, Everything But Wings
They have mastered the Chicken wings. But employees have said that basically everything on the menu besides the wings has been prepackaged and frozen. If youโre going to a place called buffalo wild wings, just get the wings.


38. Chipotle Tacos
As much as some people go crazy for Chipotle, there tacos can be a bit of a scam. Truth be told their tacos are half of the usually portions sold for the same priceโฆ You might wanna get more bang for your buck and grab a burrito.


39. Hardeeโs/Carls Jr., Charbroiled โ lb. Monster Thickburger
Hardeeโs is not messing around with this burger, the charbroiled 2/3 lb MONSTER thickburger is scarier than it sounds. This thing is loaded with 1,329 calories, 95g of fat a, and 2,820 mg of sodium.


40. Sonic Chili
This may be no surprise, but Sonic chili is probably the last thing you want on the menu. Itโs pre-packaged and getโs tossed in the microwave all day long. Itโs too hard to tell how long itโs been sitting around.


41. 7-Eleven- Hot Dogs, Taquitos, and Other Food in the Warmer
As you might think, 7-11 doesnโt have the highest quality of food. Everything thatโs warm has been sitting on the warmers from the time they opened and it will still be there until they close.


42. Dairy Queen, Anything But a Blizzard
Dairy Queen is known for there delicious Blizzards. But if youโre thinking about grabbing some food itโs best to be safe and stick with a Blizzard or a classic hamburger. The other items are not as fresh as they should be and not too great quality.


43. Popeyes Shrimp Po Boy
If your on a strict diet Popeyes is probably the last place you want to be. Their shrimp po boy is really one to pack up the arteries with 660 calories, 41 grams of fat, and 1,980 mg of sodium.


44. Dominos Philly Cheese Pizza or American Cheese
When resturants offer a certain ingrediant in only a few menu items they can sit on a shelf for a while. Becauseof that the philly cheese and american cheese are usually close to going bad at Dominos. Best to try something more common.


45. Dennyโs Grand Slamwich with Hash Browns
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But starting it off with a heart-stopping sandwich might not be the way to go. For your bodies sake, stay away from this Dennyโs sandwich. It has a whopping 1,320 calories and 3,320 mg of sodium!


46. Panda Express Orange Chicken
This well-known Panda Express dish has some shady ways to keep it โtastyโ. When the chicken becomes dry employees spoon on some undercooked sauce to keep it juicy. Now thatโs some slimy business.


47. Tim Hortonโs, Everything Except Bagels and Coffee
Itโs best to stay away from unpopular menu dishes at restaurants. Tim Hortonโs other food options are all frozen and most likely arenโt stored properly. Itโs best to just grab a bagel and coffee and skedaddle on out of there.


48. Cinnabon Caramel Pecanbon
When grabbing a sweet treat like a cinnamon bun itโs no surprise that itโs not the healthiest thing. But this Cinnabon classic called the Caramel Pecanbon is insane with 1,080 calories and 960 mg of sodium. Who knew one bun could do so much damage to our arteries?


49. A&W Any Breakfast Item After Breakfast
Surprisingly this one has nothing to do with the lack of sanitation. You just wonโt want breakfast after breakfast at A&W because these items arenโt prepared ahead of time, and youโll end up waiting a long time for them to put it together.


50. Little Caesars Breadsticks
Little Caesars got itโs hype for Hot N Ready pizzas. But before you jump to grab some breadsticks you should know employees use day old butter to keep the bread looking fresh and tasty.


51. Panera Bread, Any Kind Of Soup
That soup salad combo might not be the greatest choice. There soups come frozen in a bag then they have to defrost them in a sink that might now be clean. Then they transfer them to a big soup pot which also might not be cleanedโฆ


52. Johnny Rockets: Bacon Cheddar Double Hamburger
A bacon cheddar hamburger isnโt the best thing for anyone watching their figure. This Johnny Rockets bacon cheddar double hamburger is wildly unhealthy with 1,770 calories and 2,380 mg of sodium. A veggie burger isnโt sounding too bad at the moment.


53. Friendlyโs Tuna Sandwich
Weโve got the inside scoop on why that Friendlyโs tuna sandwich is smelling extra fishy. An employee said they only made their tuna once a week. Which definitely isnโt what you want to take a bite of


54. Steak โnโ Shake Chili
Itโs better to steer clear of the chili at Steak โnโ Shake. The station is one of the last things cleaned and the grease is rarely switched out. If your craving chili you might want to call mom to make you some homemade stuff.


55. Bojangleโs: Chicken Rice Bowl with a Biscuit
A chicken and rice bowl sounds like a pretty healthy alternative. But at Bojangles theyโre really trying to have their customers pack on the calories. The dish has 1,130 calories, 126 g of carbs, and 4,370 mg of sodium.


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