How To Get More Google Restaurant Reviews: A Complete Guide

When customers are looking for a new place to eat, one of the first steps in that journey is checking reviews.

We all do it.

It’s how we protect our time, our wallets, and our tastebuds.

For your restaurant, this is the moment of truth. That little star rating and the comments from your past guests are often the only things standing between a potential customer choosing you or scrolling right past to your competitor.

After reading this guide, you’ll see your Google Reviews not as a chore, but as one of the most powerful (and free!) tools you have for growing your business.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Why Google Reviews are a non-negotiable part of running a restaurant today.
• Seven simple, practical ways to get more great reviews, starting this week.
• How to handle all kinds of feedback to build a stellar reputation and win more loyal fans.

Why Google Restaurant Reviews Matter More Than Ever

In the day-to-day chaos of running a restaurant, it can be easy to let things like online reviews slide. But here’s a helpful way to think about it: managing your reviews is just as critical as cleaning your grease trap.

Online restaurant reviews have become a critical factor in the restaurant industry, directly impacting your visibility on the Google search engine, customer trust, and your competitive edge

For the restaurant business, reviews can significantly affect reputation and growth, making it essential to monitor and respond to feedback.

A positive and active review profile is the engine of your online reputation. When a potential customer uses Google Search to find a place to eat, your reviews are often the first thing they see. Here’s the good news: you are in complete control of it!

Here’s the good news: you are in complete control of it! Managing your restaurant’s online presence all comes down to two simple but powerful ideas:

1. They Build Trust and Act as Your Digital “Word-of-Mouth”

Think about it: a steady stream of great reviews shows new customers that you’re the real deal. It proves that other people just like them have come in, had a fantastic time, and loved your food.

In fact, a staggering 85% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Your reviews are your reputation in action.

2. They Help New Customers Find You on Google

Google’s main job is to show people the best and most relevant results. When it sees a restaurant with lots of recent, positive reviews, it tells Google’s system, “Hey, people love this place! We should show it to more people.” This helps you appear higher in search results and on Google Maps when someone searches for “restaurants near me.”

Users searching for the best restaurants often rely on Google reviews to make their decision, and reviews that mention ‘best restaurants’ can boost your local search rankings by signaling quality and popularity to Google.

More great reviews literally mean more visibility and more new customers walking through your door.

Setting the Table for Success

Before we jump into the “how-to,” let’s agree on a simple goal: to create a strong online presence that truly reflects the amazing experience you provide within your four walls.

A proactive review management plan doesn’t have to be complicated. It just means having a clear strategy for encouraging feedback, responding thoughtfully, and using what you learn to get even better.

7 Proven Ways to Get More Google Reviews for Your Restaurant

Step 1: Perfect Your Google Business Profile First

Before you ask a single customer for a review, let’s make sure your digital storefront is sparkling clean and inviting.

Your Google Business Profile is your restaurant’s homepage on Google, and a polished profile builds immediate trust.

Here is your quick-start checklist:

• Upload Great Photos: You’re in the food business, so make it visual! Share mouth-watering photos of your best dishes, warm and inviting shots of your dining room, and friendly pictures of your amazing team.
• Double-Check Your Business Hours: This is a big one! Make sure your regular hours, holiday hours, and any special event closures are always 100% accurate. This prevents frustrating a potential customer before they even visit.
• Add Your Current Menu: Make it easy for people to fall in love with your food before they arrive. Upload your current menu, ideally with prices and descriptions.

Keeping your Google profile updated and including relevant keywords in your business profiles helps your restaurant appear in more searches and attract more customers.

Step 2: Use a QR Code to Get More Reviews Instantly

Most of your satisfied customers are perfectly willing to write a glowing review, but life gets in the way. They’ll forget the second they walk out the door.

Your primary job in gathering more reviews is to make the process ridiculously easy for them and here are just some of the ways you can do that:

• In-Store Methods:
  • On Menus: A small, cleanly designed QR code at the bottom of your menu is a perfect, subtle prompt. This QR code can direct customers to a review link while waiting for their food or considering dessert.
  • On Receipts: The final bill represents a key moment in the customer journey. Including QR codes on the receipt provides a direct review link.
  • On Table Tents: A simple, elegantly designed card on each table that says, “How did we do? Help a future diner find their new favorite dish. Leave a review!” works wonders as a constant, friendly reminder.

Here’s a link to a Free QR code generator to get you started.

• Digital Follow-Ups: Catch customers with timely digital reminders after they’ve left your restaurant, while the positive experience is still fresh in their minds.
  • On Your Website: Add a prominent, brightly colored button on your homepage that encourages visitors to leave Google reviews. This button should link directly to your review page so customers don’t have to hunt for it.
  • Via Email or SMS: After a dine-in experience (captured from your reservation system) or an online order, send a quick, friendly, and personalized message. For example: “Hi [Customer Name], thanks for dining with us tonight! We’d love to hear about your experience—you can leave a quick review here on Google.”

Step 3: Train Staff to Turn Happy Diners into Great Reviews

Your front-of-house team is your secret weapon for encouraging customers to leave feedback.

Establish a review-positive culture where your team understands that knowing how and when to politely request reviews is part of providing excellent service.

Train your staff to actively listen for compliments and specific verbal cues. When a customer raves about their meal, their cocktail, or the service quality they received, that is the perfect, organic moment to encourage them to share their experience online.

A simple, non-pushy script works best:

• “That’s so great to hear! Our chef will be thrilled. We love getting feedback like that. If you have a moment, we’d really appreciate you sharing that in a quick review on Google—it genuinely helps other people find us.”

This is the ideal time for them to point directly to the QR code on the table tent or the receipt. Because the request follows a genuine compliment, it feels natural and welcome, not like a sales pitch.

Step 4: Actively Manage Your Restaurant’s Google Reviews by Responding

When customers see that you, the restaurant owner or manager, actively read and reply to reviews, they are far more likely to leave one themselves. It sends a powerful message that their opinion matters and that you are an engaged and caring business owner.

Engaging with reviews not only builds trust but also fosters customer loyalty, encouraging repeat business and long-term relationships.

Aim to respond to all new reviews within 24 hours. This sense of urgency shows you are attentive.

Remember the powerful statistic: 97% of people who read reviews also read the business’s responses. Your replies are often more impactful than the original review itself.

• For Positive Reviews: When you receive a positive review, thank the customer personally and specifically. Go beyond a generic “Thanks!” and mention the exact dish they loved or the staff member they praised. Encourage customers to leave their own reviews, as showcasing positive feedback can reinforce your restaurant’s credibility and key messaging.
• For Negative or Mixed Reviews: This is your golden opportunity to showcase your commitment to guest satisfaction. A prompt, professional, and empathetic response to negative feedback is absolutely crucial for effective reputation management.

Responding to every single review can feel overwhelming, especially as their volume grows. To make this process easier and more efficient, consider using reputation management tools like Marqii or Statusbrew.

These platforms can help you track and respond to reviews from Google, Yelp, and Facebook all in one centralized place, saving you time and ensuring you never miss a chance to engage.

Step 5: Handle Bad Reviews and Spot Fake Reviews to Protect Your Reputation

No one likes getting a bad review.

However, when handled with grace and professionalism, a negative comment can often win you more business than a positive one. It’s a public opportunity to demonstrate your unwavering commitment to excellent service for all to see.

Follow this proven four-step process for all legitimate bad reviews:

1. Acknowledge Their Experience: Start by thanking them for taking the time to provide feedback, even if it’s difficult to hear. This immediately de-escalates the situation.
2. Apologize Sincerely: Offer a simple, genuine apology like, “We’re truly sorry we missed the mark and didn’t provide the experience you expected.”
3. Offer a Concrete Solution: Don’t make excuses. Offer to make it right. Invite them back for a meal on the house or ask them to contact you directly to resolve the issue personally.
4. Take the Conversation Offline: Provide a direct email or phone number (e.g., manager@yourrestaurant.com) to show you care.

If the review is an inappropriate review that violates guidelines, make sure to flag reviews through your Google Business Profile dashboard to request Google to remove reviews that are not legitimate.

How to Spot and Report Fake Reviews

A fake review often lacks specific details about the dining experience, uses overly aggressive or inflammatory language, or comes from a profile with no other activity or a history of leaving similar 1-star reviews.

If you believe a review is fraudulent, click the three dots next to it and select ‘Report review.’

While removal isn’t guaranteed, as Google’s teams will investigate the claim, it’s crucial to flag fraudulent activity to protect your profile’s integrity.

Step 6: Make Google Reviews a Core Part of Your Marketing Strategy

Your glowing restaurant Google reviews are free marketing gold

Don’t just let them sit there. Share them across your social media platforms and social media pages like Facebook and Instagram to reach more potential customers.

Showcasing authentic customer feedback is one of the most powerful ways to build trust with potential new diners.

Share on Social Media

Take a screenshot of a fantastic review and post it on your social media accounts, such as your Instagram or Facebook page. Thank the customer publicly for their kind words.

For a more professional look, use a simple design tool like Canva to create a branded template where you can insert the review text. This turns a simple comment into a beautiful, shareable piece of marketing content.

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Add to Your Website

Create a dedicated “What Our Guests Are Saying” section on your homepage. You can manually add your favorite reviews, or for a more dynamic approach, use a website widget or plugin. These tools can automatically pull in your latest 4-star and 5-star reviews from Google, ensuring your website always features fresh, positive feedback without any extra work from you.

Display in Your Restaurant

Bring your online reputation into the physical world. Feature a “Review of the Week” on a small sign near the entrance, on a chalkboard, or at the bottom of your printed menu. This not only celebrates a happy customer but also subtly encourages other diners to leave their own feedback, as they see that you value and showcase guest opinions.

Expand Beyond Google

While Google is the priority, managing your reputation on other review platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor is also essential for comprehensive online visibility. Register your business on all major platforms to ensure you have control over your online presence.

Turning Feedback into Your Future

Embrace every review not as a critique, but as a conversation. It’s a direct line to the heart of your business: your guests.

The trends you spot in your reviews are a free source of market research, telling you exactly what to keep doing and what needs a little more attention.

This isn’t just about online marketing; it’s the digital extension of the warm hospitality you practice within your four walls every single day.

By engaging thoughtfully and consistently with your reviews, you are telling every potential customer that you listen, that you care, and that you are relentlessly dedicated to creating an exceptional experience.

Build a reputation that shines as brightly as your best dishes, and watch as a steady stream of new guests becomes your next wave of loyal regulars.

Ready to put these ideas into action? The first step is knowing which platforms your customers use the most. This video offers a clear comparison of the top 6 restaurant review sites to help you get started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Google Restaurant Reviews

How do Google reviews affect a restaurant’s ranking and sales?

Google reviews heavily influence your restaurant in two ways: 1) Trust: They act as social proof, convincing potential customers to try your restaurant. For example, when people search for “Vietnamese food in Vancouver,” Google often highlights the highest-rated Vietnamese restaurants, based on user reviews. 2) Visibility: A higher quantity and quality of reviews signal to Google that your business is relevant, which can boost your ranking in local search results and on Google Maps, leading to more customers.

What is the best way to respond to a negative Google review to protect my restaurant’s reputation?

Always respond to a negative review professionally and promptly (within 24 hours). The best method is a four-step process: Acknowledge the customer’s feedback, apologize sincerely for their experience, offer a specific solution to make it right, and provide contact info to take the conversation offline. Never be defensive; always be constructive.

What should I do if I receive a fake Google review about my restaurant?

If you suspect a review is fake or violates Google’s content policies, do not engage with the reviewer. Instead, click the three dots next to the review and select “Report review.” Provide a brief, clear reason why you believe it is fraudulent (e.g., it’s spam, a conflict of interest, or describes an event that never occurred).

How long does it take for a customer to write a review, and how can I make it faster?

It typically takes a customer only one to two minutes to leave a star rating and a brief comment. The single best way to make it faster for them is to provide a direct link to your review page via a QR code or in an email, which eliminates any need for them to search for your business. Customers can also use the Google Maps app to quickly find your business and leave a review directly from their mobile device.

Will deleting my Google Business Profile remove bad reviews?

No. This is a common misconception. Deleting your profile will not remove the reviews. The reviews may remain attached to your business location, and you will lose all ability to respond to them or manage your online presence. It is always better to address negative feedback directly.

How many reviews does my restaurant need?

There is no magic number, but the key is consistency and quality. Aim for a steady stream of new reviews each week rather than a large batch all at once. Having more reviews than your direct competitors is a great goal, as is maintaining a high overall star rating (ideally 4.0 or above). Striving for more Google restaurant reviews can help your business stand out in search results, boost credibility, and attract more customers.