So when choosing where to dine out, you want to choose wisely.

Luckily, a few red flags might help you decipher a mediocre restaurant from a great one.

So, redditoru/ArtsyAkselasked, “What arered flagsat a restaurant?”

A knife spreading butter on a slice of crusty bread

Here’s what people (along with some members of theBuzzFeed Community) said.

“If they serve cold butter with the bread.

Don’t give me cold butter!

Two people looking at a menu in a restaurant. A woman with long hair wears a casual top, and a man in the foreground holds the menu

In the words ofAnthony BourdaininKitchen Confidential:They let you see the bathroom!

If it’s dirty, imagine what the parts they don’t let you see look like.”

u/CoreyTrevor1

3.

A stack of used bowls and plates with crumpled paper napkins inside, on a table in a restaurant

“Too many items on the menu.

It’s a sign that a restaurant probably uses all frozen food.

Nothing against frozen food.

Hands using chopsticks to pick food from bamboo steamers filled with dim sum and noodles on a table

It’s ideal for some things.Somethings, notallthings.”

“The kiss of death for me is if I see only one demographic eating at a restaurant.

You ideally want to see a good mix of people.

Close-up of a server in a red apron holding upside-down wine glasses while setting a table in a restaurant

u/Misterstaberinde

5.

Add empty tables still piled with plates, and you know the place is incredibly short-staffed.

Time to bail out.”

An ice-filled metal tray with opened oysters and two small bowls of red sauce, shown up close

“Plastic menus that have residue of food splatter on them and smell.

u/Cool_Owl2609

7.

“As a non-American myself, it’s cultural restaurants that have zero people of that culture eating there.

Article image

u/Abloy702

9.

“An incoherent menu or a menu that offers various cuisines that don’t share common ingredients.

This means some ingredients may sit longer than others.”

Outdoor dining area with table settings overlooking a scenic rural landscape and mountains in the distance during sunset

u/Freshlyhonkedgoose

11.

“Ask where your oysters come from.

If the server doesn’t know, you dont want them.

A bowl of crispy tortilla chips next to a small ceramic dish filled with chunky salsa

This tactic works for most seafood.”

u/LittleIrishGuy80

13.

There is no in-between.”

A Bloody Mary cocktail garnished with a slider, bacon strip, olive, pickle, and skewered mozzarella cheese and tomato

“Does a restaurant sound like it could be two or more restaurants?

u/rukasu83

15.

“I’m an ex-restaurant manager, and I always look at how happy the staff looks.

Close-up of a club sandwich with turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheese on toasted bread, served with fries and a small container of ketchup

Do they seem like they like their jobs?

You won’t get quality food or service if the staff are miserable.

It’s worth seeking out restaurants that treat their staff well.

If they’re treated well, they’ll treat you well.”

u/ohno

17.

Can you tell if the chips are fresh and made in-house versus out of a bag?

Does the salsa have good flavor and depth, or is it similar to jarred or store-bought?”

u/friendly-sam

19.

“Food that focuses on presentation.

kathryna456a720b8

21.

“When the chef will not remove an ingredient, especially if its not essential to cooking.