Finding Restaurants
Image courtesy Google Maps
Here are my top tips for finding restaurants, whether you're relocating to an unfamiliar location, checking for new restaurants in your area, or whether you're planning on going for a trip.
Search Tools:
Google Maps
The primary advantages of Google Maps (over TripAdvisor) are:
More restaurants
More reviews
Ability to filter by hours including "open now"
"Recently opened" filter on mobile version
Superior labeled map view
The primary disadvantage of Google Maps (vs TripAdvisor) are those items I mention as positives of TripAdvisor.
TripAdvisor
The primary advantages of TripAdvisor (over Google Maps) are:
1. Ranking system, where the top restaurant of an area is clearly at the top
2. Restaurant features filters including whether takeout or tables service are available (it's possible to see it clearly on Google Maps, but not possible to filter by it)
3. Filters by establishment type (i.e. restaurants, quick bites, dessert, coffee, etc.)
4. More detailed than Google Maps in certain regards, i.e. break down of ratings by food, service, value, and atmosphere.
The primary disadvantages of TripAdvisor are:
1. Some restaurants that have plenty of great reviews on Google Maps that aren't even listed on TripAdvisor, while it's rare for something to be on TripAdvisor that isn't also on Google Maps.
2. The ranking system for ratings is in increments of 1/2
3. Inferior map view with no restaurant names on labels
Honorable Mentions
Yelp
(missing too many restaurants, but more than Open Table)
US News & World Report for big cities, i.e. Richmond & Virginia Beach
(missing too many cities, missing way too many restaurants, not enough filters, not user friendly enough, some cities much less information than others, etc.)
Open Table
(missing too many restaurants)
Booking Tools:
Google Maps for Online Orders & Calling for Reservations
Image courtesy Google Maps
TripAdvisor for Calling for Reservations & Access to Restaurant Websites
Image courtesy Tripadvisor
OpenTable for Online Reservations at Limited Restaurants
Image Courtesy OpenTable
Credit Card Perks at Limited Restaurants
Some credit cards like the Amex Platinum offer an elevated booking portal option to get you into restaurants with space reserved for members of that platform, but often the number of restaurants available on these platforms is pretty limited.
Examples:
Image courtesy Resy
Chase has options within the Ultimate Rewards portal for reservations and takeout, but is even more limited than Resy from Amex:
Image courtesy Chase
Capital One has options if you log into your Capital One account, but nothing close to SE VA unless you count DC:
Image courtesy Capital One Dining