About 5-Star Restaurants
When choosing fine dining establishments, the five-star rating is synonymous with excellence. The five-star rating system extends the original three-star ratings from the Michelin guides to dining. Both systems rely on numerous objective criteria and have proven their reliability during the past century.
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History
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The first well-known travel guide to restaurants was published by André Michelin for France in 1900. Given away for free until 1920, the Michelin guide introduced single-star ratings in 1926 and expanded to two and three stars in the 1930s. The Michelin guide, however, was focused solely on European countries until fairly recently. As a result, the Mobil Travel Guide was introduced for United States guides and reviews in 1958. Focused initially on the interstate travel system areas, the Mobil guide has continued to expand its coverage throughout the United States and in the past year internationally.
Significance
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As the Internet has evolved, trust in restaurant ratings provided by the rating providers that have emerged has eroded. Traditional ratings services such as those provided by Michelin, Mobil, and AAA include a well-known standard that has not been relaxed. The certification of quality behind a five-star restaurant rating from Mobil and AAA remains the standard by which others are measured.
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Function
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Restaurant ratings provide a standard by which consumers can identify and match restaurant choices to their desired experience. The experience ratings provide insight into the overall experience at a restaurant to include the food, presentation, cleanliness and service. Although the ratings are objective when measured, traditional ratings organizations such as Michelin, Mobil, and AAA use standardized checklists to measure the experience with multiple opinions used to ensure accuracy.
Types
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The most common type of restaurant rating that consumers are familiar with is the star rating. For the guides in the United States, the majority of star ratings are based on a scale of one to five. The greater number of stars awarded in the Mobil ratings system equates to better food, service, décor, presentation and cleanliness. Specifically in the Mobil restaurant rating system:
Five-Star: This rating is reserved for the most exclusive and elite restaurants. Five stars are given to restaurants with almost perfect and consistent performance in quality of food, service, presentation, décor and cleanliness. The five-star rating is not easily obtained.
Four-Star: Restaurants with this rating have outstanding food, which can sometimes be focused on seasonality. Not quite as exclusive as a five-star restaurant, the quality of personal service and attention is high.
Three-Star: The primary difference in the food offered for a three-star restaurant is that the chef focuses on a specific cuisine or style. The quality of service is excellent, but not as personalized as that of four- and five-star restaurants.
Two-Star: Two-star restaurants are generally more family-oriented and have a themed menu based on specific cuisines. The service and surroundings are considered good and of high quality but do not have the exclusive feel that higher rated restaurants maintain.
One-Star: One-Star restaurants are not bad. Remember that Mobil will not rate a restaurant that is not recommended. Rather, the one-star rating considers value and the experience at the establishment. Typically, a neighborhood restaurant would fall into this category.
Benefits
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Ultimately, the rating system provides the consumer with the best insight into how to set expectations for their dining experience. Historical ratings services such as Michelin, Mobil, and AAA provide consumers with proven, unbiased information in addition to ratings based on critics' observation.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Restaurant Image from Mobil Reviews
