Rating System

How Our Ratings Work

Exploring Antigua’s ratings are built from a structured framework, not guesswork. Each place is reviewed against a Master Rating Sheet of categories (e.g. Food, Drink, Service, Atmosphere). Every category is made up of sub-categories (e.g. Food = quality of ingredients, signature/local dishes, taste, creativity, presentation).

Only the relevant categories and sub-categories are scored; anything not applicable is marked N/A and excluded from the total calculation. Category scores are the average of their applicable sub-category scores, and a venue’s overall score is the average of its applicable categories.

To keep things fair, I use a published Rating Rubric (what a 60 vs 80 actually means), a Food & Drink Context/Expectation guide (a beach shack isn’t judged like a fine-dining restaurant), and a simple Expense Level indicator ($–$$$$$) so you can weigh quality against likely spend.

Master Rating Sheet

This is the backbone. Each listing is assessed against the categories shown here.

Sub-category scoring: Each sub-category is scored on a consistent 0–10 scale using the rubric. If a sub-category doesn’t apply, it’s N/A and doesn’t affect the average.
Category score: The category score = the average of its applicable sub-categories.
Overall score: The overall score = the average of all applicable categories.
Visual example: Below you’ll see a worked example so you can trace how a restaurant score rolls up into the overall rating.

Why this matters: you can see exactly what drove a score, not just the number.

Food

Quality of Ingredients

Specialty Options

100

Taste

Creativity

Presentation

Drinks

Variety

100

Quality of Selection (wine/liqour/beer brands)

Specialty Options (e.g. local brews, signature cocktails)

100

Taste

Creativity

Presentation

Service

Efficiency (responsiveness)

100

Friendliness

100

Knowledge of the Menu/Services

Professionalism

100

Ease of Access

Location Convenience

100

Parking Availability

Value for Money

Pricing Transparency

100

Portion Size vs Price

Quality vs Price

Experience vs Price

Wifi

N/A

Availability

N/A

Speed and Reliability

N/A

Coffee

N/A

Quality

N/A

Variety

N/A

Remote Work Friendliness

N/A

Seating Comfort

N/A

Power Outlet Availability

N/A

Ambient Noise Level

N/A

Staff Acceptance

N/A

Ambiance

Decor and Atmosphere

Music and Sound Levels

Lighting

Cleanliness

100

General Cleanliness

100

Restroom Facilities

100

Safety and Security

100

General Safety

100

Health and Sanitation Measures

100

Experience Quality

Fun/Enjoyment Factor

Uniqueness

Guidance and Information

N/A

Availability of Guides/Informational Material

N/A

Clarity and Helpfulness of Guidance

N/A

Accessibility

Suitability for Different Age Groups

100

Physical Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Rating Rubric

Numbers have meaning. The rubric defines what each band reflects in real-world terms so scoring stays consistent over time.

This rubric is used on every score so that a “70” in one venue means the same thing elsewhere.

Rating Level	Score Band	General	Food & Drink	Service & Staff	Ambience & Environment
Very Poor	0–20	Fails to meet basic expectations in most areas.	Extremely poor quality; possible hygiene or freshness concerns.	Unhelpful or rude service; long waits; little or no care shown.	Uncomfortable or unclean setting; may raise safety concerns.
Poor	20–40	Below average with significant gaps; inconsistent delivery.	Weak flavours or quality; limited or poorly executed menu.	Slow or inattentive service; limited knowledge; mistakes not handled well.	Uninviting space; noticeable wear; weak upkeep.
Average	40–60	Meets basic expectations but lacks distinctive strengths.	Adequate quality and variety; some hits and misses.	Functional service; acceptable pace; limited initiative.	Plain or forgettable setting; few comfort cues.
Good	60–80	Above average; clear strengths with minor gaps.	Fresh, well-seasoned dishes; some creativity or signature items.	Friendly, attentive staff; good pace; problems resolved well.	Comfortable, welcoming space with considered details.
Excellent	80–100	Outstanding across the board; memorable and consistent.	Exceptional ingredients, execution and creativity; balanced flavours.	Proactive, knowledgeable, polished service that elevates the experience.	Distinctive atmosphere; well-kept, comfortable and engaging.

Food & Drink Context / Expectation

We score against what a venue aims to be, not a one-size-fits-all standard.

Why it helps:

Over-promise and under-deliver gets marked down.
A humble brief executed brilliantly gets credit.

Type	Product — Expectation	Service & Environment — Expectation
High-end Restaurant	Top-tier ingredients and technique; cohesive menu; wine/cocktail programme; consistent execution.	Polished, well-paced, knowledgeable service; refined, comfortable setting with attention to detail.
Casual Restaurant / Beach Bar	Fresh, tasty dishes; good portions; reliable house specials; speed over ceremony.	Relaxed, friendly service; comfortable, airy space; sensible wait times; family-friendly.
Street Food / Roadside Vendor	Bold flavour and freshness; authenticity first; fair pricing; simple presentation is fine.	Clean prep area; quick, straightforward service; informal seating or stand-and-eat is acceptable.
Bar	Well-balanced drinks with proper ice and technique; consistent classics; thoughtful signatures.	Attentive pace; knowledgeable staff; comfortable, social atmosphere; safe, tidy bar space.
Café / Bakery	Fresh bakes; quality coffee; accurate extraction; steady case turnover.	Warm, unhurried environment; quick, personable service; suitable seating for work or chat.

Expense Level (average price)

A quick guide to typical spend (all listings except beaches).

How we set it:

Activities: Based on the most popular experience or a sensible average across core offers.
Restaurants & bars: Based on what most guests actually order (typically a starter, a main and around 2 drinks).