What goes into my ratings? How truly biased am I? Most importantly.... can a 10/10 be earned?

How do I decide what score each restaurant I visit receives and ensure that it's not purely opinion based? My big 3 is a list of 3 factors that can essentially make or break an establishment. An ideal restaurant would have all 3:

• a big menu (including meals, bites, and desserts)

• food tastes great and made with high quality ingredients

• good bang for your buck

A HUGE secondary rating factor for me is the employees. I've worked in food service so I completely sympathize with the experience. I understand everyone has their days, but it's never an excuse to be horrible to customers. It's a huge bummer to me when the food is amazing, but the employees act like your presence is unwanted.

Lastly, are somethings that can add to a place and not necessarily take away. I won't take away points for these but I may give some lol.

• If a place is easily accessible it makes the experience better. This can include anything from free parking to where in the city it is located. Not only does it improve your experience but it's something every business should keep in mind for more traffic.

• If a place is 100% vegan it makes the experience better for me personally. I don't have to double check with the menu and employees to ensure my choice is vegan and not just vegetarian. At the same time I understand the pull for a combination menu. It allows the restaurant to reach a wider variety of clients and it allows vegan guest to bring their picky non-vegan friends. I take all of this in while rating.

With all of these things in mind a wonderful example of a restaurant that exceeds each is Sunflower Bakehouse in Nashville, TN. I've been here upwards of 10 times and every single time everything about my visit has been amazing.

• It is 100% vegan so you don't have to worry about cross contamination or accidently ordering something vegetarian.

• The menu is huge and they're constantly adding things and developing seasonal options. I've never had something to eat there that I didn't like.

• The staff is kind and attentive. Once they brought me the wrong dish on accident and went above and beyond replacing it AND giving me a gift card for my inconvenience (if you can even call it that.)

• It's a laid back establishment which is my favorite so I may be biased here. I like it when the stakes are low and the prices too.

• I think the biggest draw for me is the menu, more specifically the dessert menu. They have a million different pastries, cupcakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, and everything else. For a girl with a big sweet tooth, this place is a big win.

• It's about a 30 min drive out of the main city of Nashville, but it's worth it every time.

In conclusion, when evaluating restaurants, I rely on a combination of essential factors—menu variety, food quality, and value for money—to ensure my reviews are objective and not purely opinion-based. I also consider the quality of service, as employees play a crucial role in shaping the overall experience. Additional aspects, like accessibility and a fully vegan menu, can enhance the visit but don’t necessarily affect the core rating. By focusing on these key elements, I aim to provide a balanced and fair assessment of each restaurant, helping readers make informed dining choices.