Hello fellow travellers,

Just a general question. Do people research for restaurants (cuisines in particular) before they travel to a new place? or just get there and explore places to eat?

Wondering how experimental travellers are really.

Thanks.

I have been to such scenario once when I was out with my bunch of friends and looking for some good bar. We were at the middle of nowhere as all bars were full due to Arsenal and Man United match up.

But thanks to android apps, finally we found a bar at 10 pm. We all should carry some smart phones having such apps installed.

--
Allan

I usually do some research on restaurants in any area I am visiting, but I am always open to trying places recommended by locals.

forums like this are all about people wanting to plan ahead. those wanting to truly explore do not go near these sort of websites but have the ability to observe, learn and ask questions at the destination.

Oh that's not true Katzgar. I love travel forums but I never actually plan anything for my trips.

I just show up. And eat where it looks good, when I get hungry.

I don't know if that makes me more or less "experimental".

that makes you unique but it doesn't change the anal paranoid nature of forums like this.

Thanks for your helpful replies.

I've had few bad experiences while travelling and therefore, I have been thinking about making a service that makes it easier to research restaurants. It's still very much in the air but I'd love to speak to a few interested people regarding it.

It will not take more than 15 mins and I'd try and compensate for your time somehow.

Anyone up for it?

Cheers

My daughter and I prefer to eat a vegan diet, and we ALWAYS research places to eat before traveling.
I use happycow.net to look for places, as well as google and yelp.
Also, I thought only vegetarians did this . Apparently not.

Sometimes, though, I only eat at a couple of places I've researched beforehand, as I end up finding something to eat based on reading menus posted outside the window. I'm also willing to relax my standards sometimes, based on where I am and what the food is.

In general, though, I will reconsider travel to somewhere if absolutely nothing pops up on a google map when I type in "vegetarian" or "vegan". In the past few years, that has happened less and less.
Also, if we're road tripping/camping and I can cook and shop for myself, then it doesn't matter.

I do a little of both: research best places to get local foods or must-try restaurants and also leave time to just explore eateries without an itinerary. A big part of traveling for me is trying new foods and new places to eat. I use forums, Yelp, also talking to locals.

I will see the reviews and comments of the travelers.

I agree with Suze - I don't even find restaurants <b>after</b> travel!

Well, I prefer to search restaurants when plan my trip so that I don't fall in any kind of trouble and enjoy my journey.

It just depends your expectations. I would never use a service or research restaurants. I have not had a trip ruined yet because of a spur-of-the-moment restaurant choice.

Yes i always do research before going any new place.

Not sure what kind of "service" you have in mind. Isn't that what Trip Advisor, Yelp, Open Table, Slow Food, Fodors...just to name a few...are all about? Plus every newspaper and many magazines have food sections and we haven't even gotten to the food blogs. I would be very weary of a service that recommends dining places. Too easy to get paid to push one over the other and no way for a user to know. I suppose if you were to gather links from all the sources and attach them to restaurant listings, it would make the search process easier. How would you make money....from a user fee, a restaurant fee, advertisements ?