In the mobile food industry, food critics can make you or break you. While a bad review could seriously damage your chances of attracting new customers, a good review can have new customers waiting hours just to get a sample of your fare.

Tips For Impressing A Food Truck Critic

Everyone is a potential critic.

A food truck critic like to remain anonymous, so you may not know when one walks through up to your truck. Furthermore, with the increasing popularity of online review sites like YelpCitysearch, and Google Reviews, any customer can become a food critic.


Do not over-coddle a critic.

There is nothing wrong with giving known food critics some special treatment, and if a recognized food critic eats at your food truck or cart, you could “check up” on them briefly during or after the meal if they stick around the area. But do not offer a free meal or extra menu items, and make sure that you do not bother a critic too much during their meal. If you seem to be trying too hard, food critics might think you are compensating for some deficiency. If they look around and see that others are not getting the same level of service, they may grow even more suspicious.

Let your food speak for itself.

You can try offering food critics your best dish, but do not try to convince a food critic that the food is better than it really is. The more you pressure someone, the more likely you will push them further away.

Be receptive to criticism.

If a food critic is eating at your mobile bistro and begins to critique or complain about the food, or service, graciously accept the criticism, and do anything in your power to fix the problem immediately. The worst thing you can do is become defensive. On the other hand, if you fix the problem, you may win some points with them for your superior customer service.

What A Food Truck Critic Considers

It is not just about the food. A food truck critic will judge different aspects of your operation, so make sure to impress them in every area.

Taste. By far the most important element that the critic will judge is the taste of the food.

Technique. The more difficult the food is to make, the more likely it will impress a mobile food critic, as long as the taste lives up to the technique.

Presentation. The appearance of food can make or break a dish. If a meal looks unappetizing, it can even affect the way the taste is perceived.

Creativity. You can win extra points with a food critic by offering originality in your dishes, or your presentation even though if you typically serve in a plain brown wrapper, there isn’t much can do.

Service. Food truck critics will notice how much attention servers give customers, how quickly customers’ service expectations are met, how friendly the servers are and how knowledgeable the staff is about the food and drinks offered.

Value. Even if a critic enjoys a dish, if it is overpriced, your food truck or cart could receive a review that mentions outrageous pricing.

Cleanliness. While offering a clean dining area will probably not be enough on its own to get you a great review, any dirty aspects of your restaurant will probably earn you a bad review no matter what. Be sure that before you open your service window, the staff takes a little time to pick up the immediate area and make sure there is a garbage receptacle in place for your customers to discard their trash.

Meeting of Expectations. A food truck critic knows that not every food truck is the same. They will have different expectations for different vendors. What a food truck critic expects from your business has a lot to do with your selling proposition. Ask yourself what expectations are created by your branding and marketing concept, and make sure you fulfill them.

How to Recognize a Professional Food Truck Critic

The best way to recognize a professional food truck critic is simply to keep up-to-date with the names and faces of local and regional reviewers, and make sure that the entire staff does so as well. However, food truck critics usually try to remain anonymous, and some will go to great lengths to do so, including wearing disguises or even using credit cards under a fake name. If you suspect someone might be a food truck critic, look for the following clues:

  • Note taking. Professional food critics will probably try to hide the notes they are taking. They may use a palm-size computer or cell phone, scribble on a napkin.
  • Photographing. If someone is using a camera or holding their cell phone close to the food, they may be trying to take pictures for an online or print review.
  • Careful Observation. If customers are paying very close attention to your trucks food or operations, they might be professional food critics. Even if they are not professional reviewers, their scrutiny suggests that they are picky customers, and they may even plan to write an online review or blog about your food truck.

RELATED: Get More Online Customer Reviews For Your Food Truck