The restaurant review request checklist & templates.

The checklist

1. Ask in person, right after the meal or at checkout, not by text or email days later.
2. Say why in one honest sentence: it helps other people find you and helps you know what’s working.
3. Ask for their honest experience only, never a specific star rating or scripted wording.
4. Hand them a direct link or QR code that opens the review box immediately, not a general search.
5. Ask once per visit. Repeating the request across staff members turns a favor into a nuisance.
6. If the visit had a real problem, resolve it first. Don’t ask for a review over an unresolved complaint.
7. Thank every reviewer, publicly or privately, whether the review is glowing or lukewarm.
8. Check in on new reviews weekly. Respond to negative ones calmly, specifically, and without arguing.

Message templates

Five ready-to-use scripts for the moments that matter most. Copy, adjust to your voice, and use.