I've put some thought into a rating system since I came up with idea of becoming the BBQhunter. I'm sure that there are better systems and systems that are simplier, but here is what I propose to do. Basically the rating will be 1 through 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. I'm not final on what areas I will rate, but at a minimum I'm thinking around 5 should do the trick, at least for now. So here is what I propose (for the time being):
Taste: Does it meet the standards of what my opinions of a good BBQ are? Can I tell if it has been within 10 feet of a smoker/grill? Are the sides homemade or prepackaged (I can usually tell the difference)? Did I get the beverage I wanted or did I have to settle for something else?
Value: Am I getting a good bargain? I realize that good BBQ takes a lot of time and effort to make and you have to charge accordingly, but at the same time am I paying $15 or $20 for a meal that should only be worth $10?
Staff: I really like a place that has friendly wait staff. I know everyone has off days, but customers should always be treated like your business relies on them to keep afloat. If I get a smile when I arrive and a thank you at some time during my visit, then my day is generally made. I work hard for my money (ok, I like to think I work hard) and I like to think that me being in your establishment spending those hard earned bucks means something to you.
Ambiance: Hey, I'm all for peanut shells on the floor when I visit my favorite watering hole. I think a good BBQ joint should look and smell like a there is a pit somewhere in the immediate vicinity. I greatly favor the Ma & Pa style place over the big sterile restaurant environment. Eating BBQ can be messy and I don't want to feel like I'm breaking the rules if I get something in my facial hair or use a bunch of napkins. At the same time I don't want to be fighting off swarms of bugs to enjoy my food. Plates, utensils and glasses should be spotless before I get my meal/drink served.
Last, but not least...
Friends: Bottom line, is this a place I would bring my friends to? How likely am I to rave about your place to all that can stand to listen to me?
____________________________________________________________________
Now lets talk about the stars and what they mean. This is from the bottom of the scale and up:
1 to 3 stars: Well, I'll keep this short and sweet. You suck, your food is terrible and I had better BBQ from a vending machine.
4 to 6 stars: Right down the middle. You are not terrible nor do you shine. 4 stars and I would have to have a really good reason to ever return. 5 or 6 stars, well maybe our bad days coincided with each other. I'll give you another chance to prove me wrong.
7 to 9 stars: Let's start with 7 stars. Your place is not too bad. Maybe I thought the portions were a little too small for what I was charged. Perhaps the beer selection was poor or my tea was not cold. Maybe I should have had pizza instead of BBQ. This is some place that I would bring my friends to get their opinions. 8 stars and you are in the big leagues now. I really thought that you were firing on all cylinders. Perhaps you were out of a menu item I had my heart set on. I would whole heartily recommend your food and BBQ experience to my friends. 9 stars is pretty darn close to perfection. Your restaurant meets and maybe exceeds all of my expectations of what I think a BBQ should be. I can't shut up about you and all my friends continue to think I've lost it (which usually is what they think most of the time anyway). I would be in your place at least once a month (or more if it wasn't too far out of the way).
10 stars: Fat chance. There is only one 10 star BBQ and I make it (remember this is my opinion, and that is what counts here). If for some miraculous reason I award 10 stars to your BBQ I would be admitting that my BBQ is not the king of the hill. Plus, the sun would stop shining, the earth would cease to rotate, dogs would meow and cats would bark.
So, there it is in a nutshell (if nuts were the size of greyhound buses). Lets get to work.
Later...
Taste: Does it meet the standards of what my opinions of a good BBQ are? Can I tell if it has been within 10 feet of a smoker/grill? Are the sides homemade or prepackaged (I can usually tell the difference)? Did I get the beverage I wanted or did I have to settle for something else?
Value: Am I getting a good bargain? I realize that good BBQ takes a lot of time and effort to make and you have to charge accordingly, but at the same time am I paying $15 or $20 for a meal that should only be worth $10?
Staff: I really like a place that has friendly wait staff. I know everyone has off days, but customers should always be treated like your business relies on them to keep afloat. If I get a smile when I arrive and a thank you at some time during my visit, then my day is generally made. I work hard for my money (ok, I like to think I work hard) and I like to think that me being in your establishment spending those hard earned bucks means something to you.
Ambiance: Hey, I'm all for peanut shells on the floor when I visit my favorite watering hole. I think a good BBQ joint should look and smell like a there is a pit somewhere in the immediate vicinity. I greatly favor the Ma & Pa style place over the big sterile restaurant environment. Eating BBQ can be messy and I don't want to feel like I'm breaking the rules if I get something in my facial hair or use a bunch of napkins. At the same time I don't want to be fighting off swarms of bugs to enjoy my food. Plates, utensils and glasses should be spotless before I get my meal/drink served.
Last, but not least...
Friends: Bottom line, is this a place I would bring my friends to? How likely am I to rave about your place to all that can stand to listen to me?
____________________________________________________________________
Now lets talk about the stars and what they mean. This is from the bottom of the scale and up:
1 to 3 stars: Well, I'll keep this short and sweet. You suck, your food is terrible and I had better BBQ from a vending machine.
4 to 6 stars: Right down the middle. You are not terrible nor do you shine. 4 stars and I would have to have a really good reason to ever return. 5 or 6 stars, well maybe our bad days coincided with each other. I'll give you another chance to prove me wrong.
7 to 9 stars: Let's start with 7 stars. Your place is not too bad. Maybe I thought the portions were a little too small for what I was charged. Perhaps the beer selection was poor or my tea was not cold. Maybe I should have had pizza instead of BBQ. This is some place that I would bring my friends to get their opinions. 8 stars and you are in the big leagues now. I really thought that you were firing on all cylinders. Perhaps you were out of a menu item I had my heart set on. I would whole heartily recommend your food and BBQ experience to my friends. 9 stars is pretty darn close to perfection. Your restaurant meets and maybe exceeds all of my expectations of what I think a BBQ should be. I can't shut up about you and all my friends continue to think I've lost it (which usually is what they think most of the time anyway). I would be in your place at least once a month (or more if it wasn't too far out of the way).
10 stars: Fat chance. There is only one 10 star BBQ and I make it (remember this is my opinion, and that is what counts here). If for some miraculous reason I award 10 stars to your BBQ I would be admitting that my BBQ is not the king of the hill. Plus, the sun would stop shining, the earth would cease to rotate, dogs would meow and cats would bark.
So, there it is in a nutshell (if nuts were the size of greyhound buses). Lets get to work.
Later...
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