Module 2: Point of View–Restaurant Review

Module 2: Point of View–Restaurant Review

Goals for this Module:

l express opinions using complete sentences

l write clear and specific topics sentences

l learn how to use descriptive language to voice an opinion

l practice revising weak paragraphs

l  write basic descriptions

l  write a restaurant review

Part I. Idea Generating – Restaurant Review

Exercise 1 (pair work) – Make a list of the restaurant qualities that attract you to a restaurant. Make another list of qualities that you don’t like.

Example: Good Qualities Negative Qualities

Cheap prices Noisy

Good location

Exercise 2 – Use the chart below to gather information about restaurants.
Example: Chung Ju Pizza Hut

Restaurant Review Data Sheet

Categories	*Chung Ju Pizza Hut*	Restaurant 2	Restaurant 3
Location:	Not convenient. Near the bus station. Out of my way to go there.
Menu:	Pizza, Salad bar, spaghetti, beer,
Type of Restaurant:	American Italian Fast Food Korean Style
Price:	Very Expensive. It’s 25,000 for two.
Clientele:	Family couples. It’s a good first date restaurant. It’s good for groups.
Atmosphere:	Clean but noisy. Pleasant. Good view from windows.
Reputation:	Famous name…
Food Quality	Just okay. The potato salad is too sweet. The pizza is…
Service	It depends on when you go. Sometimes when it’s busy the service is too slow.
Your Experience:	Review all the data and then write a paragraph about the restaurant.

Exercise 3 – Compare your list with other students’ lists.

Part II. Analyzing a Restaurant Review

Reading 1―Read the following restaurant review and answer the questions.

Krishna’s Fish Head Restaurant is a little neighborhood joint near Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. This unique place is mainly known for its exotic Indian seafood. Since it has reasonable prices and is only several blocks from the financial center, it is popular with the business lunch crowd. It is well known in the city for its authenticity. Krishna’s offers several set menu choices everyday in addition to its regular menu featuring fish or vegetarian cuisine. Some of the popular dishes of this restaurant are fish head curry, bindi masala, peas kurma and other Indian dishes. Although the portions are ample, you may want to leave room for some Indian pastries for dessert.

One of the other main attractions of this restaurant is the traditional Indian décor and soft background music that provide a perfect ambience for an enjoyable meal. It is this ambience that has helped make Krishna’s not just a lunchtime hit, but also a hot spot for couples in the evening. The dining room has an assortment of statues representing its Indian heritage. There are also many fine works of art displayed on the walls by the dining tables. The restaurant has a number of comfortable booths that offer privacy for a more romantic dinner as well as several tables on the outside patio near a fountain of an elephant spurting water.

All in all, Krishna’s Fish Head Restaurant is a fantastic place to enjoy not-so-spicy Indian cuisine. Your meal will be both healthy and hearty. The curries are exquisite, and the fish is always fresh. The staff always greet you with a smile and are helpful when describing the dishes on the menu. You can expect the special treatment every time, but you never have to expect to pay too much. Krishna’s gets an “A” in every category and a “big thumbs up” for the delicious food.

Krishna’s Fish Head Restaurant is located in the Little India neighborhood at:

888 Jalan Tuna Ra Seay, Kuala Lumpur 50555
03-555-4770

Exercise 1 – Questions

1) What is the writer’s opinion of this restaurant?

2) Do you think the writer’s opinion is biased? Why or why not?

3) What useful information is not included in this review?

4) What words help you “visualize” the restaurant and “taste” the food?

5) Would you try this restaurant? Why or why not?

6) What do the words in bold mean?

7) What kind of sentence in sentence 3?

Exercise 2 – Write a paragraph on one of the categories from Part 1, Exercise 2. Try to describe an aspect of the restaurant in detail.

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Part III. Topic Sentences

A strong topic sentence needs to:

l Have a clear focus that is not too broad or too narrow. If the focus is too broad or too narrow the reader will be confused about writer’s purpose.

Too Broad: There are many restaurants in Seoul.

Too Narrow: Brian’s Bread Basket is an Irish restaurant.

Clear Focus: The variety of restaurants in Seoul provides an opportunity to experience other cultures’ cuisine without leaving Korea.

l Have one (and only one) clearly stated topic.

Not Clear: Academic success is important for getting a job and joining a club is an opportunity to make friends that can lead to social networking.

Clear: University students should join a social group or club to make friends and enhance their networking opportunities.

(Note: A strong topic sentence will often reveal the writer’s opinion; however, many topic sentences may just focus on an idea that is not necessarily an opinion.)

Exercise 1 ―Which topic sentences are strong? Which are weak? Why?

1) It is important to choose a restaurant that serves healthy food when planning a banquet.

2) Healthy food is essential for planning a banquet and that is also how I eat at home.

3) I would never work in a restaurant because I eat in restaurants.

4) The Hungry Hippo is a restaurant.

5) The Crazy Cow, one of the most popular restaurants in Daegu, is famous for its imported beef and “old west” décor.

6) Dinning out can be cheaper than cooking for a single person.

7) Many people like restaurants.

8) I think some restaurants do a good business.

Exercise 2 – Rewrite the weak topic sentences.

Exercise 3 – Write topic sentences for the following topics (topic + idea or topic + opinion):

1) extra-curricular activities –

2) student housing –

3) Korean food –

4) new restaurant –

5) university life –

6) Internet –

7) cell phones –

8) restaurant ambience –

Part IV. Macro and Micro Editing – Writing Descriptions

Revise the following paragraph to provide a more vivid description of the café. Use a variety of sentence structures and descriptive words.

Jazz & Sanjo is the best café in Chung Ju. It is a neighborhood café not on a big road. It is usually quiet. On Friday night and Saturday night it is busy. The food is delicious and the desserts are good too. They have many different kinds of tea, coffee and other drinks there. The atmosphere is very nice. It is comfortable. There is a patio. There is a piano. There are also some interesting paintings and pictures.

Part V. Writing a Restaurant Review

Write a review of a restaurant. The following are some guidelines for writing a review:

l Begin with a general statement that mentions the restaurant’s name and location.

l It is also possible to begin with a “hook” and then provide specifics about the restaurant.

l Food – Describe the food on the menu in detail. You can mention a particular dish that you have had there, if you think it is appropriate.

l Atmosphere – Discuss the exterior and interior décor. Also mention the ambience, background music and special features of the restaurant.

l Service – Some reviews may give details about the service from the first moment a customer enters the restaurant until the customer has fished the meal and leaves. It is okay to mention the name of a server or chef that is exceptionally friendly, helpful or talented.

l Clientele – Mention what type of people like going there. Is there a dress code?

l Price – It is important to mention the general price range; however, specifics are not necessary. A “hint” about whether the place is expensive or cheap may be adequate.

l Location – Is it hard to find?

l Other details – Do customers need reservations? What are the hours? Is it crowded on weekends?

l The “Bottom Line” – Overall Conclusion. Make a couple of final comments and give the restaurant some type of “score” that will help other people decide whether they want to go there or not.

l Provide the address and telephone number at the bottom of the review.