-About the ratings-
To make it more fun, I rate the food/ beverage in two main categories: food & place.
A. Food.
To me food can be categorized in three categories. They are: taste, portion, and price.
A.1. Taste:
Food needs to taste nice. It does not have to be great or excellent, but it just has to be "enough" to our palate. Of course the word "enough" is such a vague one and everyone has different taste. But to me, food needs to have a unique character. I don't like food that needs salt or spices. The food needs to be good by itself. Adding too much condiments is like watching a lady who puts too much make up on her face. It looks nice on her wedding day, but if this happens everyday you would be getting sick to look at hers. On the other words, why try to hidden the true taste of the food? Every food has different ingredients, spices, cooking methods, etc. We ought to respect each food by itself. YES, respect :) If you don't like the food you don't have to come back in the future. But until then, why waste your money on something that you don't like? You don't know that you don't like it because you put too much condiments on it. Don't do it. Enjoy it by itself. You only need to put condiments ONLY when the chef told you so or it is a custom to eat the food with something else.
Bottom line: I like to taste the food by itself. Leave it alone.
A.2. Portion
I like food that makes me full in one sitting and in one portion. I don't like to buy more food because the portion is too small. Bigger portion usually also means bigger bang for your bucks. Why would you want to go to a restaurant while in the end you are still hungry? If you make me full, you make me happy.
A.3. Price
Let's be real here: everyone likes to snag a good deal. That's why in the US they have what they call it Black Friday (or Cyber Monday). In this category price is weighted against the Taste and Portion. If the taste is great and the portion is generous, I don't mind to pay more for it. But if the taste, portion, or both is/ are lacking, then I will not spend much for the food... If this is the first time trying that food in that restaurant, I will not order that food anymore. If all of the food in that place is lacking taste and portion while charging a sky-high price, I will not visit that restaurant anymore. Simple.
B. Place
Place can be categorized by: service, cleanliness, and ambiance
B.1. Service
Good service is always appreciated. A good smile, say welcome or how can I help you are always the nice things to hear when you visit a restaurant. Of course you can't always get that treatments if you go to a market food vendor. In that case, a simple awareness that you are approaching their place (not ignoring you) and willing to explain you about their food in a polite way is the way to go.
B.2. Cleanliness
The table, chair, and the surrounding needs to be clean from dust, trash, etc. So does the plates, forks, spoons, etc. No animals of any kind please. I don't want to see rat, insect, papa roach, ant, things of that nature in the restaurant. If you can see that in the dining hall, just imagine what the kitchen looks like. It's a sanitary issue man! The last thing that you want to have after eating from the restaurant is stomachache and trip to a doctor. I'm also very easily got turned off if the bathroom is dirty. No, I'm not even going there. Typing it already makes me sick to the core. If the restaurant serves great food with excellent service but the bathroom is filthy... I'm not coming back, sayonara!
B.3. Ambiance
I don't normally pay too much attention to the ambiance of a restaurant since I care much more about the food and service. For example, if they put Chinese decoration in an Italian restaurant then I think maybe the owner is Chinese who happens to open an Italian restaurant, or maybe they just celebrate Chinese New Year eight months too late. I don't normally fuss about the decoration. I do care if they play the background music too loud/ inappropriate (rap music in an expensive restaurant), the place is too small so that people keep bumping each other, or even using too much air cleaner in which the fragrance just makes me sick.
Ambiance:
1. Market: Many food vendors in one roof. Expect to see a lot of people and may find it difficult to find a table. Food is usually provided by more than two vendors. Drink is usually provided by one or two vendors.
Market+: clean, easy to find spot to seat, not too crowded
Market : relatively clean, and crowded
Market- : kind of dirty, many plates are still left on the table, crowded and unpleasant
2. Restaurant: Ya'll know what it is. Every restaurant will be judged differently as they offer unique ambiance for each of them. But in general it should be like this:
Restaurant+ : clean, classy, upscale, and not too crowded (just enough people)
Restaurant : relatively clean and pleasant to be in
Restaurant- : dirty, noisy, and need physical repairs (wall paint, squeaky table, etc)
