Our reviewing system will consist of three categories of restaurants: Upscale, mid-range and family-friendly. This is intended to level the playing field, so to speak, among restaurant styles. It would not be fair, for instance, to rate sauces at a family-friendly restaurant in the same way sauces would play such an integral part in an upscale restaurant food style. A diner paying $30+ per entree has a right to expect a higher quality food and more artistic presentation than if she or he were dining at a less expensive mid-range or family-friendly restaurant. Each review will indicate the restaurant category in the rating scores so that scores may be compared with other restaurants within the same category, apples for apples, if you will.

    Reviews will address five (5) major areas of comment and rating: food presentation (our first impression of a dish is its appearance); food quality (both of ingredients used and and its preparation); service (knowledge of the menu, friendliness, attention to detail, professionalism); cleanliness (of the dining room, lounge and restroom facilities); and value (an overall impression of the first four as they relate to price, as well as an admittedly subjective assessment, generally, of the dining experience).

    Each area has a potential 10 points, for a total of 50 points. In place of stars, the usual rating iconography, the “cod” will be the standard of measure. The number of cod will be based upon the following numeric aggregrate scores:

46-50 Points           4-Cod Rating

41-45 Points        3.5-Cod Rating

36-40 Points           3-Cod Rating

31-35 Points           2-Cod Rating

26-30 Points           1-Cod Rating

Each restaurant will have been visited at least twice in order to qualify for a review, and no advance warning will be provided for any visit. Restaurants will be notified of a review after it has been written, but before publication, so that we may verify the accuracy of restaurant data such as address, telephone number and web site address, days and hours of operation, credit cards accepted, handicapped access, and other such information

    While Cape Dining Out will  accept  advertisements from restaurants, it will not review any restaurants purchasing space. It is important to maintain objectivity in reviews in order to lend credibility for our recommendations. We want readers to know our comments and ratings represent honest and untainted opinions of the dining experience in each restaurant presented.