Reviews are still a vital tool in the restaurant industry that can make or break a business. Acclaimed food critic Jay Rayner's recent glowing review of Cardiff's Matsudia Ramen left the team inundated with hundreds of booking requests, showing the power of editorial.
Websites like Tripadvisor and Google have also become intrinsic in developing an online customer base - although they're not without their risks, exposing the business to potentially negative criticism. So far, the Chef's Table by Bristol's harbourside is yet to receive any one- or two-star reviews from customers on either platform, despite having received feedback from more than 500 diners.
The Avon Crescent venue has scarcely left TripAdvisor's list of Bristol's top 15 restaurants since becoming a fully-fledged restaurant in 2020. It was born during the Covid years with owner and executive chef Conrad Lynton-Jenkins, who has some 40 years of experience in hospitality after his catering business Cherry Picked came to a halt during lockdown.
