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Restaurant guides review restaurants, often ranking them or providing information for consumer decisions (type of food, handicap accessibility, facilities, etc). In 12th century Hanzhou signs could often be found posted in the city square listing the restaurants in the area and local customer's opinions of the quality of their food. This was an occasion for bribery and even violence. Today, restaurant review is carried out in a more civilized manner. One of the most famous contemporary guides, in Western Europe, is the Michelin series of guides which accord from 1 to 3 stars to restaurants they perceive to be of high culinary merit. Restaurants with stars in the Michelin guide are formal, expensive establishments; in general the more stars awarded, the higher the prices.
In
the United States, the Mobil Travel Guides and the AAA rate restaurants on a
similar 1 to 5 star (Mobil) or diamond (AAA) scale. Three, four, and five
star/diamond ratings are roughly equivalent to the Michelin one, two, and
three star ratings while one and two star ratings typically indicate more
casual places to eat. In 2005, Michelin released a New York City guide, its
first for the United States. The popular Zagat Survey compiles individuals'
comments about restaurants but does not pass an "official" critical
assessment. The Good Food Guide, published by the Fairfax Newspaper Group in
Australia, is the Australian guide listing the best places to eat. Chefs
Hats are awarded for outstanding restaurants and range from one hat through
three hats. The Good Food Guide also incorporates guides to bars, cafes and
providers. |
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