I’ve created my own rating criteria. Each restaurant will be listed in one of four categories, Fast Food Joint, Family or Chain Places, Quality Eats, and Elegant Fine Dining. I will give each restaurant or dining experience within those categories a number of “Forks” out of a total of five. Here are the definitions of each rating. Keep in mind that my opinion counts for a portion of any rating and every persons tastes and likes are different.
Categories:
Fast Food Joint: This is pretty self-explanatory. Any place that you can drive thru or walk up to pick up your order will probably qualify.
Family or Chain Places: This could include a chain or franchised restaurant or family oriented joints where you order, pick up and eat your food without any table service. Some places that do have servers (i.e. Applebee’s or TGIFriday’s) would still qualify because of their chain nature.
Quality Eats: Restaurants that begin to step up their game will be in this category. These places will likely not be chains but independently owned places or family owned places that treat eating as a dining experience instead of simply eating to be full. These places may still be appropriate for families with children in some cases and may still have a casual atmosphere. This is a broad category reserved for places that respect food and eating.
Elegant Fine Dining: Just as it says. Restaurants that are typically already highly rated and well-known for being fine dining. Attention to the details of the dining experience is important and the highest quality food prepared creatively is essential.
Note: If a restaurant claims to be in a certain category level (i.e. spouts claims of being a fine dining location), I will put it there and if I feel it belongs elsewhere I will make it known in my review.
Ratings:
One Fork: 
Meets basic requirements with regard to overall cleanliness and food is edible. Primarily a place to order and receive food for an economical price. Food is not good or not cooked properly. No service or service is limited. Worst of the category, should perhaps be in a ‘lesser’ category.
Two Forks:
Family oriented dining experience with emphasis on basic quality food and adequate service. The menu offers a variety of foods and some effort is given to present food. The food is nothing special but cooked appropriately. Service is relaxed.
Three Forks:
A nice but casual dining experience. There are some creative elements to the menu and masters traditional and basic food prep. Ingredients are better than average. Service is competent and efficient with a personal touch or friendly face. The dining experience is enjoyable and the restaurant shows respect to the idea of dining instead of eating. Midpoint of the category.
Four Forks:
A fine dining experience that creates distinctive and memorable night. Fresh, high-quality ingredients enhanced with an imaginative preparation and presentation. The service staff meets and shows desire to exceed the guests expectations with attentiveness and an excellent awareness of the dining flow. Overall a great dining experience but not perfect.
Five Forks:
The best of dining experiences within the category. The chef uses only the finest and freshest ingredients for the menu. The food is prepared perfectly and presented artistically. The flavors are paired with an impeccable sense of taste and the overall meal is extraordinary. Everything about the restaurant and food are perfect. The service staff exceeds what is expected by paying close attention to detail and timing in an unobtrusive way. Best of the best in the category.
