We focus on three main points in our reviews: expectation, price, and quality. By examining these attributes, we believe we can give you a clear sense of what a restaurant or cocktail bar has to offer.

Expectation

Not every restaurant or cocktail bar should be judged on the same level; that just doesn't make sense. Comparing an extensive tasting menu to a local neighborhood bistro would be unfair to both, as each brings unique offerings to the table. That's why we categorize establishments into tiers one, two, and three. This system helps you select an option that fits your current needs and sets clear expectations for your experience.

Price

It's pretty straightforward: you should know what you're getting your wallet into before committing. This can be tricky because prices can vary significantly based on portion size, a guest's appetite, alcohol, and other factors. Plus, we're talking about New York City here... To simplify things, we've outlined general price points you should expect to pay per person if you opt to indulge in a few dishes and/or drinks. And if you're working with a tighter budget, it might be wise to do a bit more research.

Quality

Our ratings system is distilled into four categories: food & beverage or cocktails & bites, service, atmosphere, and vibe. Each plays a significant role as your experience out is about more than just eating and drinking (even though that remains the primary focus). To provide an accurate representation of the experience, each category is rated out of 100 and weighted differently.

This is our judgment of what is most important to us when we visit an establishment. First, and most importantly, how is the food and drink? This is followed by service, which can make or break the experience. After service is atmosphere, and then vibe. “Vibe” is a combination of how all the previous factors intertwine, coupled with the intangible feeling an establishment imparts to us.

- Restaurants -

$$$$$ = > 300 $$$$ = 200 - 300 $$$ = 100 - 200 $$ = 50 - 100 $ = < 50

- Cocktail Bars -

$$$$$ = > 100 $$$$ = 75 - 100 $$$ = 50 - 75 $$ = 25 - 50 $ = < 25

Food & Beverage/ Cocktails & Bites = 55%

Service = 21%

Atmosphere = 16%

Vibe = 8%

All scores are combined and rounded to the nearest whole number to determine a final rating, which then places the establishment within a specific class.

It's important to note that these classes are tier-specific. For instance, a tier one rating of 85 isn't directly comparable to a tier three rating of 85. Each restaurant or cocktail bar is evaluated based on the standards set by its peers within its respective tier.

Class 1 = 90 - 99

Class 2 = 80 - 89

Class 3 = 70 - 79

Class 4 = 60 - 69

Class 5 = 50 - 59

Class 6 = 40 - 49