Today there are so many options for eating out. There are fast food restaurants, cafes, food courts, snack shops, raw bars, steak houses, coffee houses, gourmet restaurants and the list goes on. There is an eatery for every occasion and taste. While some of us will hop into a regular fast food joint for a quick fix, there are others who prefer to sample the delicacies of gourmet restaurants.

Here are some quick tips on criteria to use when reviewing a restaurant.

Cleanliness
It is expected that all restaurants should be clean but that is not always the case. One way to tell if the restaurant is clean is to do your research. Ask around to hear what others think of it. This way you will garner information on the quality of the food that is prepared there with regards to taste, quantity and cost as well as the overall service.

Key factors should include the smell of the space, the overall attitude of the hostess, waiters and other persons working there, seating arrangements, cleanliness of the waiters and restrooms, availability of toiletries in the restroom, the time it takes for you to get your order and the presentation of the food.

Location
If you are celebrating or simply have the appetite for the finer things in life than location is going to be important to you when you eat out.

Service
It is said that even if the food is not great you will still enjoy yourself once the service is great and this is true. Great service should be important to restaurant owners as this is one of ensuring that you have repeat customers. This means that a lot of attention and care is given to how customers are treated from the moment they enter through the front door until they leave. Restaurants that have excellent service record usually attribute this to the workers. Efficiency and good manners are key.

Ambiance
Creating a nice ambiance requires a love for mystery, romance, excitement and things that are unique or unusual. The restaurants that specialize in creating the right ambiance will feature particular themes (Italian, pirates, fantasies and so on) that are geared at pleasing the customer and garnering the desired ‘wow’ effect.

These settings are great for proposals, romantic dates and really special events. Once the ambience is right then the tone is set for an evening that is rich with promise. Have fun checking out the restaurants in your area!

100% Juice
Typically when you see drink products with this labeling, it usually means that the item is all juice, without the fibrous pulp. Typically, such juices are pasteurized in order to destroy harmful microorganisms such as E-Coli. For some older pasteurization techniques however, the flavor can be lost and it is then added back via artificial means.

Made From Concentrate
Juices with “Made From Concentrate” labels typically mean freshly squeezed juice which is pasteurized, then evaporated under vacuum heat (to remove most of the water). It is then frozen. The juice is concentrated to approximately 65 per cent brix (brix indicates the sugar concentration), the evaporation not only removes water but also essential oils which add to flavor. The oils are re-added at the end of the process in order to restore flavor. Water is added to the concentrate in order to take it to a brix level of 42 per cent (three times sweeter than fresh juice) before it is frozen into concentrate that is ready for sale. The frozen concentrate can simply be reconstituted by adding water.

No Sugar Added
“No Sugar Added” juices will likely be either 100 per cent juice, or juice from concentrate which is sold without sugar being added to the processing. With this labeling, the manufacturer is stating that they did not add sugar during the product’s processing.

My thoughts on the whole issue of juices? Why not consume whole fruit instead? Whole fruit are more advantageous over juices in many different ways, especially for people wanting to minimize calorie intake and others who may be concerned about the effect of consumed sugars on their blood sugar levels. Whole fruit have the pulp and membranes that offer excellent fibre, flavor, and most of its nutrients intact. Whole fruit are also filling and will help to create a sense of satisfaction that you won’t get from drinking juices. Take this example – one small fruit is equivalent to four ounces of juice (1 mouthful). Easy choice for me!

Submitted by Katherine H., Austin, TX.