The WA Good Food Guide team adheres to a strict set of rules when reviewing, with independence and impartiality at the forefront.

We work hard behind the scenes to narrow down our lists of the state’s best restaurants and bars. Our reviewing season typically starts in March, and carries right through to September. By the time the final lists are decided, we’ll have sent our critics to nearly 200 venues across the state. In some cases, and especially at the pointy end, we might go two or even three times.

Every single review is conducted anonymously, with our reviewers booking under assumed names and paying for their own meals. And although we have partnerships with sponsors, no commercial considerations come into any of our decisions on the list or the awards.

Reviewers send us extensive notes and scoring recommendations, then once reviews are filed, we personally ring and check every detail with the venues to make sure we get our facts right. Even so, venues close, chefs change jobs and opening hours change; we endeavour to update details where possible, but our reviews reflect the experience of our reviewers at the time.