Key takeaways
- Only diners whose visit was scanned can review a restaurant, so every review comes from a real visit.
- Restaurants get stars; deals get likes. They answer different questions.
- Read the spread of ratings, not just the average, and sort by Newest to see how it's doing now.
- A restaurant's public replies tell you how it treats people when something goes wrong.
- Paying FIG never hides, changes or reorders a review.
The short answer
On FIG, a review can only come from a diner whose visit was scanned at the restaurant, so you're reading people who actually ate there. To decide quickly: look at the spread of ratings, sort by Newest to see recent visits, read a couple of the low ones and how the restaurant replied, and check the likes on the deal you're considering.
Why FIG reviews are different
Most review sites let anyone write anything. On FIG, the review button appears only after a visit is scanned, whether staff scanned the diner's code or the diner scanned the restaurant's counter code. That rules out reviews from people who never went, and it ties each review to one visit: one review per visit. Reviews show the diner's first name and last initial.
And nothing a restaurant pays FIG changes this: paying never hides, changes or reorders reviews.
Stars for restaurants, likes for deals
| Stars | Likes | |
|---|---|---|
| On | The restaurant | A deal |
| Answers | Was the visit good? | Was the deal worth it? |
| Who | Diners whose visit was scanned | Diners |
A restaurant can have great food and a so-so deal, or the other way round. Check both.
Read the shape, not just the number
At the top of a restaurant's reviews you'll see the average, the number of reviews, and five bars from 5 stars down to 1, showing how many of each. The bars often tell you more than the average:
- Mostly 5s and 4s: consistent. A safe bet.
- Lots of 5s and lots of 1s: divisive. Read the 1s: is it the food, the wait, or something that won't bother you?
- Few reviews: new on FIG. Don't over-read one or two ratings either way.
Sort to answer your question
- Newest: how's it doing now? Kitchens change, and recent visits matter most.
- Lowest: what goes wrong when it goes wrong? Look for patterns, not one bad night.
- Highest: what are people ordering? Great reviews often name the dish.
- Glance at the bars.
- Sort by Newest and read three.
- Sort by Lowest and read two, plus the restaurant's replies.
- Check the deal's likes.
That's usually enough to decide.
Replies matter
Restaurants can reply to reviews in public. A calm, specific reply to a bad review ("we've changed how we handle takeout at lunch") tells you more about a place than ten five-star ratings. No reply at all isn't a red flag on its own: small kitchens are busy.
Write a useful review yourself
After your visit is scanned, tap Rate this visit, or find it later under Past visits on your Deals page. Pick the stars and, if you like, add a few words or a photo. The most helpful reviews say:
- what you ordered;
- when you went (a Tuesday afternoon is a different restaurant from a Saturday night);
- one thing that stood out, good or bad.
Be fair: rate the visit, not the price of the deal. If the deal itself disappointed, that's what a deal's like (or lack of one) is for. How deals work, from claim to counter.
Questions
Can anyone review a restaurant on FIG?
No. Only diners whose visit was scanned can review, so every review comes from a real visit. One review per visit.
What's the difference between stars and likes?
Stars rate a restaurant visit; likes are for deals. A great restaurant can have a so-so deal, and the other way round.
Can restaurants remove bad reviews?
No. Restaurants can reply in public, but paying FIG never hides, changes or reorders a review.
How should I sort reviews?
Newest to see how it's doing now, Lowest to see what goes wrong, Highest to see what people order.
Whose name shows on my review?
Your first name and last initial.
When can I review?
After your visit is scanned: tap Rate this visit, or find it later under Past visits on your Deals page.
