How to research restaurants

[jgenie]

We're planning a party in a city away from where we live. We're not sure what city yet. Anyone have any idea how to research restaurants for a place you will be visiting? TIA

[Zansu]

Trip Advisor, Urban Spoon and Yelp

[wencit]

www.chowhound.com. Be aware, though, that a lot of those people consider themselves "foodies" and can be a bit snobbish about restaurants and places to eat.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Depends on the city but you might see if the main newspaper in that city has a helpful website. Whenever I am going to DC I always read the WP's website because they have dining out chat forums that are very handy!

Beth

[wellyes]

I always use Trip Advisor. It seems to have the most diverse and 'family-oriented' reviewers in general vs the younger set who uses Yelp and the foodies of Chowhound.

If you are actually youngish and care about style / hipness Yelp's awesome. If food is your thing then TripAdvisor is probably a little amateurish in terms of restaurant reviews.

[PearlsMom]

In the biggest cities (it started in NYC), I rely on menupages.com -- it's got actual, up-to-date menus for tons of restaurants as well as comments.

[arivecchi]

I'm a heavy Yelp user. The reviews are usually great and dead on.

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

Another Yelper!

[crl]

Also check for local magazines, for example the Washingtonian for the DC metro area.

Catherine

[essnce629]

We use Yelp all the time. DBF just heard about Urban Spoon and was on there the other night but didn't like it as much as Yelp.