Review Key

Here is our explanation for the various ratings we award each culinary establishment we review. Should you have any questions or comments regarding the descriptions please feel free to comment below.

Food Rating:

One Straw:

This is food that should not be considered for a second visit. These dishes fail to satisfy and leave us wondering what we paid for. Occasionally this cuisine might deliver some delight to the taste buds but perhaps that minimal joy is priced in such a way as to turn that delight into disaster, suggesting a great imbalance between price and enjoyment.

Two Straws:

These dishes satisfy us, but do not excite us. On average the food is good but occasionally it is not cooked to its finest and perhaps leaves the patron a little unfulfilled. Restaurants that fall into this category can be recommended for excelling in other areas, such as ambiance or drink menus. Great cuisine can end up in the two straw category for also displaying an imbalance between price and satisfaction of the meal.

Three Straws:

This distinction is given to the culinary creations that leave us very satisfied. This food is great and priced well making it the reliable and returnable choice. Though this cuisine might not turn its dishes into works of art, it does fulfill our hunger and satisfy our taste buds.

Four Straws:

Excellent cuisine that is cooked to perfection. This cuisine begins to suggest the new and unexpected in quality and production. Though at times it may not surpass all of our wildest expectations, it never is less than extremely satisfying.

Five Straws:

Beyond excellent cuisine which both surprises and delights the pallet. Creations of this caliber suggest the artistic qualities of cooking and become the topic of conversation when consumed. This rating is given only to those places whose combinations and creations are never less than perfect and can never be described as ordinary or predictable.

Price Rating:

Each rating reflects an average range of costs for a dinner including an appetizer, main course, and one glass of wine, unless otherwise specified.

$traw: 0-$15

$$traws: $15-$30

$$$traws: $30-$50

$$$$traws: $50-$75

$$$$$traws: $75 and up

Overall Rating:

One Straw:

This is a poor establishment and should not be visited again. The one straw rating is reserved for those places which either demand way too much for way too little or just produce at such a low quality as to not deserve continued patronage.

Two Straws:

Establishments of this ranking are descent but perhaps have many drawbacks that prevent them from excelling in all areas. Say for example the menu has some excellent dishes but does not truly accommodate for a diners pallet, ie too little diversity. This rating is also given to restaurants who have other poor qualities such as a bad atmosphere or service.

Three Straws:

These establishments are great, reliable, and perfect for return visits. Three Straw restaurants do not break the bank but do satisfy the pallet and provide a wonderful atmosphere. This rating is given to the establishments that can be considered good for weekly visits. They will rarely disappoint and always leave you satisfied.

Four Straws:

These establishments are excellent and should be reserved for special occasions. They tend to have more expensive options and are perfect locations for events and meaningful evenings. These should be considered for the occasions when you are looking for the place that will not disappoint and provide a night to remember but won’t blow a budget completely, although can be more expensive than most.

Five Straws:

This is the once in a life time experience. An evening at this establishment is the special occasion. These restaurants present you with a near magical experience that cannot and should not be replicated on any regular basis. This is the place that turns the habit of eating into an artistic and experiential journey that will provide lasting impressions.

Sincerely,

The Coffee Straws Team