Responsible restaurants worth their salt will always display their hygiene rating prominently to provide clients with peace of mind.
But if you arrive at an eatery and this information isn’t available, there are a few positive signs which might suggest you’re still in good hands.
Clean cuisine is mandatory, so here are five ways to tell whether a restaurant is hygienic.
- Entrance
First impressions last, so whether the entrance is a single step, double door or posh portico, dirt, dust and detritus are warning signs that what awaits inside might be even more unpleasant.
It’s inevitable that high footfall areas will occasionally be less than spick and span and suffer wear and tear — but a quick glance around should reveal whether a deep clean hasn’t been conducted for decades.
Top tip: mat experts Kleen-Tex sell high-performance interior and exterior mats that look fantastic.
- Server recommendations
If you ask your waiter or waitress what they recommend from the menu and they struggle to answer, it’s probable that they never eat at work, so the chances are you may be in (tummy) trouble.
However, if they reel off a few favourites, the opposite is true — it’s a sign that staff in different roles get involved in every aspect of the business and may even socialise there.
Top tip: another good sign is servers who are au fait with specials, seasonal dishes and alternative dietary requirements.
- Toliets
Busy home owners will confirm that when all else fails, the minimum requirements for domestic cleanliness are a sparkling kitchen and bathroom.
And the same applies in restaurants — you can’t check the kitchen unless it’s the open variety, but if the toilets resemble Jackson Pollock Number 2, run for the hills.
Top tip: The NHS, WHO and European Tissue Symposium suggest single-use paper towels might be more hygienic than air dryers.
- Uniforms
By the end of a busy shift, even the neatest chef will have a few food stains on their whites.
But when serving staff look like extras from The Walking Dead, alarm bells should be ringing — no one feels comfortable being greeted by employees in dirty, torn clothes, and with unkempt hair and mucky hands
Top tip: For a quick exit in this situation, excuse yourself to make a private call outside and simply slip away into the night.
- Flowers
It’s not a fail-safe formula — but seeing fresh flowers in a restaurant is a good sign that the management care enough about their business to spend cash on non-essentials that enhance the overall ambience.
Finding floral decorations at the entrance is excellent but seeing them placed on each table is perfect.
Top tip: established florists like Appleyard London create beautiful bouquets for openings and promotional evenings.
Follow these fast five food hygiene tips every time you’re unsure and you’ll always dine with confidence.
This ends our list. But please share your own food hygiene tips in the comments section!
