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LucasPisaCielo t1_ixeqclu wrote

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AndyVale t1_ixf41cn wrote

Okay, if we're talking sit-down restaurants more than fast food joints I usually do a mix of the following:

  • Travel books (I get one of those little guide books for most major cities I plan to visit)
  • Food blogs, just Google some local ones
  • Searching Instagram hashtags
  • TripAdvisor

If I'm seeing a place getting good reviews on all the above, and it sounds up my street, then I'd give it a go.

I'd also say that the Michelin Guide does have cheaper options than 3*

A 1* meal may still be the best meal you've had in your life, made by some outstanding chefs. Unlikely to be CHEAP, but in my experience they're cheaper than 3* ones. For example, the tasting menu at the 1* I went to this evening was about £140, while the one at the 2* place I nearly went to comes to about £320.

They also have non-starred restaurants in the Michelin guide too. Again, these are usually still very good. They tend to be a tad less extravagant, the experience might not be as polished, but I've rarely been let down. For clarity, I've been to a couple over the last few days and the price has come to about £50-90 a head, easily could have done them for less too.

They also have the 'Bib Gourmand' rating, which specifically means you can get a meal for a cheaper price (the threshold varies by area, and it may still be more expensive than a casual chain).

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LucasPisaCielo t1_ixfmef4 wrote

Thank you for all this information. I've found out the travel books sometimes are outdated, but it's a great place to start. I'm going to use your other tips.

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AndyVale t1_ixgkw6a wrote

They can definitely get dated quickly in the restaurant scene. The same as Tripadvisor needs a bit of understanding to really get what you're looking for, the Michelin Guide can be late to the game, and a blog may be one person's individual taste.

But if something's hitting the right notes across a mix of them, you're likely going to be in the right ballpark.

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