How to Find the Best Cafes and Restaurants in Your Town

If you’ve lived in your town for a number of years, you may think you know where all the best restaurants and cafes are.  However, you’ll be surprised at how many excellent eateries you regularly overlook because you’re used to always going to the same places.  How can you open your eyes to places you may have been walking right past?

Here are some tips for finding the best cafes in your town.

* Pretend you are new to the neighborhood, and ask a few strangers where they go to get a great cup of coffee or a great Italian meal.  Their answers may surprise you.

* Check near the colleges, especially if you are part of this crowd.  This is a great place to find a trendy new bar or cafe full hip young things who may be able to give you advice on their favorite places to eat.

* Check out online review sites that focus on restaurant reviews.  Google your town and your favorite types of food, and see what other people recommend.

* Park your car and go on a walking tour of your neighborhood. Often, the best restaurants don’t have fancy signs outside advertising their wares, because they are so established everyone knows where they are.  Or their signs may simply be hidden or facing away from the road.  The very best restaurants often don’t have any kind of external name plate or sign at all, or have entrances hidden from the street – these are the kinds of places you can only find if you have an invite from a regular!

In addition to these tips, remember to just ask around.  The best cafes are the ones that people recommend to you through word of mouth.  If someone offers a suggestion, try it out.  Chances are good it will became one of your new favorite places to eat.