Google Reviews for Restaurants: Why They Matter and How to Get More

Working in hospitality, you are well aware how much Google reviews matter to your business. And thus, way beyond image.

Google reviews are they the foundation of your online reputation as well as a prime marketing tool for restaurants.

Whether you're managing five units or fifty, how you handle Google reviews directly impacts your visibility on Maps, your reservations, and your ability to scale.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Why Google reviews matter for restaurants in 2025
• How to collect more Google Reviews and why it adds incredible value
• 12 proven tips to respond effectively, save time, and grow your rating
• What makes a good (and bad) review response

Why Are Google Reviews Important for Restaurants?

1. To Attract More Diners and Increase Revenue

In the U.S., over 90% of diners read online reviews before choosing a restaurant, and 81% rely on Google as their primary discovery platform (BrightLocal, 2023).

That means your Google Business Profile (GBP) is likely the first thing a potential guest sees when searching for your restaurant online.

Here’s what appears on your digital storefront:

• Your average Google star rating
• Google customer reviews
• The total number of reviews

Here are why these 3 KPI matter to a hospitality leader:

• 91% of Americans trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations (BrightLocal)
• 84% of people are likely to trust a restaurant more if it has a high volume of recent reviews
• 33% won’t eat at a restaurant with less than a 4-star rating (Dixa, 2023)

Reviews have massive influence when it comes to bringing clients in. They can make or break a customer’s decision to dine at your location.

And it doesn’t stop there. According to a Harvard Business School study, each additional star on Yelp or Google reviews can increase revenue by 5–9%.

Don't forget: Other crucial platforms like Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable, and TheFork are gaining weight in rankings. You should manage each profile with the same rigor across your entire network.

If you have local pages for all your locations or are thinking of creating local pages, we hardly suggest you use a Store Locator like Malou's that will automatically display fresh reviews on each pages.

2. To Boost SEO and Visibility on Google and AI (like ChatGPT)

When we talk about SEO for restaurants we’re referring to the techniques that get your businesses to the top of search results.

So when someone searches for “bottomless mimosa brunch in Brooklyn” or “best sushi Miami Beach,” Google and ChatGPT want to show them relevant, popular, and trustworthy results.

That’s where Google Reviews come in:

• The more reviews you have, the more Google considers your location a trusted, popular business.
• The more positive reviews, the better your local ranking.
• The more you respond, the more you're seen as active and reliable.

💡 Language models like ChatGPT and Gemini now use reviews to assess and recommend businesses in search queries. High volumes of recent reviews = more chances to appear in AI-generated answers.

In short: taking time to manage your reviews is one of the highest ROI actions you can take.

3. To Improve The Average Google Rating of all your Restaurants

Your Google average rating isn’t a simple average of your all reviews.

For your final rating, Google’s algorithm also considers:

1. The volume of reviews
2. The recency of reviews
3. The response rate and speed
4. The engagement on your listing

Which means: Replying to all reviews, as fast as you can and with optimized content will lift your average rating. Even negative reviews!

To improve your score, you need to:

• Accumulate a large number of reviews
• Make sure most are positive
• Respond to every review, especially the negative ones
• Respond with top tips and optimized content

Hospitality groups need to implement this strategy across all locations to make sure their ratings are consistent. One location can damage a whole brand.

At Malou, we often recommend launching review acquisition campaigns, especially for locations struggling with lower ratings.

4. To Manage Your Restaurant Network and Identify Operational Issues

For groups and franchises, reviews are high-value operational KPIs. Every comment is a real-time feedback and client data about:

• Food quality
• Customer service
• Cleanliness
• Wait times
• Value for money
• Overall ambiance

By analyzing this data at scale, you can:

• Spot what’s working across your network
• Identify pain points and local issues
• Launch targeted improvements where needed

That is why we developed automated semantic analysis. A lot of our clients can get a global view can pinpoint local issues for each location and act quickly with data-driven decisions.

For example : If 42% of negative reviews at your Times Square location mention long weekend wait times, but no other locations show the same trend, you can take targeted action like,Hire more weekend staff, improve kitchen prep or adjust your reservation system.

How Can you Collect more Google Reviews?

Collecting hundreds of reviews might not sound easy. It all depends on tools and strategy.

• Ask happy guests to leave a review at checkout or via email/text.
• Use stickers with links on your tables, counter, in the restrooms
• Launch periodic review campaigns for each location.
• Use tools like QR codes at the table or Malou’s Booster

QR Codes and Booster are faster: less steps to get to the reviews. They work best when combined with a digital “Spin the Wheel” to incentivize customers.

Finally, make sure you train your staff properly and use concrete tools like a script to help them.

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Pro tips for groups: incentivize your team by organizing competitions between people or between locations.

8 Pro Tips to Respond to Google Reviews (and Grow Your Rating)

1. Respond quickly — ideally within 72 hours

Timeliness is rule #1.

Why? Because:

• Responding to a negative review helps reduce its weight in your overall Google rating.
• Responding to a positive review can actually boost your average rating.

And above all, replying promptly shows guests you care about their experience. If you wait too long, you miss the opportunity to build a relationship and earn loyalty.

👉 What if the review is several weeks or even months old? Respond anyway. Late is better than never.

At Malou, our mobile app (MalouApp) centralizes all your reviews across locations in one place. You can respond directly from the app, and our AI assistant even suggests tailored replies in seconds.

2. Respond in the reviewer’s language

If a customer took the time to leave a thoughtful review in their native language, they’ll appreciate the effort if you reply in kind—even if it’s not perfect.

Use ChatGPT or similar tools to translate quickly and respectfully. The gesture will resonate, and it can also help future non-English-speaking guests feel welcomed at your establishment.

3. Personalize your responses

Generic copy-paste responses are spotted by guests and Google instantly. Make sure you:

• Start your reply with the guest’s name (if available).
• Reference something specific from their review. This is where you can also add SEO keywords
• End with your restaurant’s name, location, or dish name for a more local feel and SEO boost.

The goal is to show genuine interest in the feedback while gently sliping in keywords at the same time.

💡 Bonus tip: If you remember the guest or the occasion (birthday dinner, business lunch, etc.), include it in your response. This human touch makes a big impact.

4. Include keywords in your replies for SEO

Every review reply is a hidden SEO opportunity.

Google’s algorithm scans reviews and responses for relevant keywords when ranking local businesses.

That means the right keywords can help your location show up for searches like:

• “best tacos in Austin”
• “brunch with patio in West Loop”
• “top halal burgers in Queens”

What to do:

• Define 10 high-potential keywords for each of your locations.
• Use them in strategic places: review replies, Google posts, business descriptions.

At Malou, we help define the best keywords for each location based on search volume, concept, and local competition.

Just don’t overdo it—responses should sound natural, not robotic.

If you also want to help your restaurants show up on AI like ChatGPT, make sure you mention your brand name in the reviews.

5. Always thank the reviewer

Whether the review is 5 stars or 1, always start with a thank you.

For negative feedback, this softens the tone and shows maturity. For positive reviews, it reinforces appreciation and builds trust.

It’s a small detail but it matters.

6. Invite the guest to return

After thanking them, encourage a return visit.

Suggest a new dish, a seasonal event, or a recent upgrade (like a new patio or cocktail menu). This is especially effective since review replies trigger a notification email to the reviewer. This is an opportunity to stay top-of-mind.

7. Set a regular review schedule

Review management is essential but time-consuming.

The fix: make sure your marketing team or staff block out one hour per week to respond to all reviews.

• Create a "perfect review" playbook with all brand rules + SEO keywords
• Pick a consistent time: Mondays, mid-afternoon, or any low-traffic slot
• Delegate it to a trusted team member, community manager, marketing team

⚠️ Google rewards consistency. Make sure you replay fast, but also, on a regular basis to boost your visibility.

8. Use AI to save time (especially if you're a multi-location group)

If you're managing multiple locations or scaling fast, review responses can become overwhelming.

You can use Gemini or ChatGPT, just set up a clear prompt like:

"You’re a restaurant owner. Here’s a list of Google reviews. For each review, reply with the guest’s first name. Include the keywords ‘brunch NYC’ and ‘best bottomless mimosa’. Thank positive reviewers for visiting. Apologize respectfully to negative ones. End with a warm invitation to return."

Important: Always review and personalize negative responses manually. AI helps, but empathy is human.

Better, you can use a AI-fueled tool like Malou with built-in smart review reply generator. This tool :

• Creates custom responses in 3 seconds
• Adapts your brand tone
• Includes relevant SEO and GEO local keywords
• Handles both positive and negative feedback

With Malou, we help ambitious groups like 8 Hospitality, Riviera Dining Group, ChaCha Matcha, and Dinex Hospitality Group manage their ereputation and review strategy. From boutique concepts to nationwide franchises, these brands trust us to turn their local visibility into real business results.

With the MalouApp, you can also:

• Update 100+ listings in one click.
• Automate review responses with tone customization.
• Schedule SEO-driven Google Posts.
• Benchmark location performance in real time.
• Create Local Pages with a Store Locator
• Manage Social Media for all locations

Interested? Feel free to call us at +1 (917) 528 3521 or book a demo here.