Unlocking Restaurant Success: How Google Reviews Can Boost Your Sales

For restaurants, digital visibility is no longer optional—it's a fundamental pillar of success. In an era where diners rely on Google Maps to find their next meal, having a strong presence on Google Reviews is critical. Yet, many restaurant owners and marketers fail to execute a purposeful strategy to maximize this opportunity.

Study from Trip Advisor show that 94% of diners choose restaurants based on online reviews, meaning managing your Google Maps presence is essential for restaurant growth. This article explores the importance of Google Maps reviews, the impact of quantity over quality (as long as ratings remain above 4.0), and how restaurants can dominate both local and cuisine-based rankings to drive more sales.

The Quantity vs. Quality Debate: Why More Reviews Matter More Than Better Reviews

One of the biggest misconceptions restaurant owners have is that a high rating alone will make them competitive. While maintaining a rating above 4.0 is crucial, the quantity of reviews plays an even bigger role in attracting new customers. Here’s why:

✅ Trust Through Volume – A restaurant with 500 reviews and a 4.2 rating appears far more credible than a restaurant with 30 reviews and a 4.7 rating. The sheer volume of reviews signals popularity and consistency.

✅ Google’s Algorithm Favours Quantity – More reviews improve visibility on Google Search and Google Maps, making your restaurant more likely to appear in top search results.

✅ More Data Points, More Reliability – A high number of reviews smooth out anomalies and ensure a stable reputation, whereas a few negative reviews can disproportionately impact a restaurant with a low review count.

Winning by Location (Local Searches Matter)

Customers often search for restaurants by area—they might type “best restaurant in Redhill” or “top places to eat near me.” This is where winning in your location comes into play: you need to ensure that your restaurant ranks within the top 10% in your area in terms of review volume.

How to Dominate Local Searches:

📌 Aim to be in the Top 10% by Review Count – If the top restaurants in your area have 1,000+ reviews, your goal should be to hit that benchmark.

📌 Encourage Every Customer to Leave a Review – Train staff to politely request reviews, integrate QR codes linking directly to your Google Review page, and incentivize check-ins with discounts or loyalty rewards.

📌 Engage With Reviews – Reply to every review, whether positive or negative. This improves customer perception and signals activity to Google’s algorithm.

👉 Need help ranking higher in your local area? Book a free consultation with Oddle to get personalized insights!

Case Study: How Swee Choon Leveraged Reviews to Dominate Local Searches

Swee Choon Tim Sum, a well-loved dim sum restaurant in Singapore, is a prime example of how to win local searches. With over 14,000 reviews on Google and a 4.2-star rating, Swee Choon consistently ranks at the top for searches like “best dim sum in Singapore.” When you search for “best restaurant in Jalan Besar,” Swee Choon is ranked among the top, proving the importance of dominating a specific area. Their success stems from:

✔️ Actively encouraging customers to leave reviews after their meal.

✔️ Consistently replying to feedback, both positive and negative.

✔️ Keeping their Google Business Profile updated with photos, promotions, and operating hours.

Their strong Google presence translates to consistent foot traffic, even on weekdays when many restaurants struggle to attract customers.

Swee Choon ranks #1 in organic search on Google Maps when searching for"best restaurant in jalan besar"

Winning by Cuisine (Standing Out in Your Category)

Beyond local searches, customers often look for specific types of cuisine, such as “best zi char in Singapore” or “top Taiwanese restaurant near me.” To stand out in your cuisine category, you need to ensure that your restaurant is among the most-reviewed in your niche.

How to Dominate Cuisine-Based Searches:

🔑 Benchmark Against Competitors in Your Cuisine – If top restaurants in your cuisine have 2,000+ reviews, aim to match or surpass them.

🔑 Use Keywords in Reviews – Encourage customers to mention your cuisine type in their reviews (e.g., “Best zi char place I’ve tried!”) to improve SEO rankings.

🔑 Cross-Promote Across Digital Channels – Use your website, social media, and email marketing to drive customers to leave reviews.

Case Study: Keng Eng Kee’s Success in Winning the “Best Zi Char” Spot

Keng Eng Kee (KEK) Seafood, a household name for zi char in Singapore, has successfully built its reputation by leveraging Google Reviews. With over 4,000 reviews and a 4.4-star rating, KEK ranks at the top when customers search for best zi char in Singapore. Their strategy includes:

✔️ Encouraging customers to post about their experience and mention popular dishes.

✔️ Engaging with reviews by responding promptly and addressing customer concerns.

✔️ Featuring user-generated content and reviews on their social media pages to reinforce credibility.

By actively managing their online presence, KEK enjoys steady bookings and a loyal customer base, proving that strong Google Reviews translate directly into higher sales.

Keng Eng Kee ranks #2 in organic search on Google Maps when searching for 'best zi char Singapore.'"

SEO Best Practices for Google Maps Reviews

Google Reviews play a crucial role in SEO, and optimizing them can further enhance discoverability:

🔹 Use Relevant Keywords in Responses – When replying to reviews, mention keywords like your cuisine and location (e.g., “Thank you for dining at our Taiwanese restaurant in Redhill!”).

🔹 Geo-Tag Your Business Accurately – Ensure your Google Business Profile is fully optimized with updated address, hours, and menu details.

🔹 Encourage Detailed Reviews – The more information customers provide in their reviews, the better your SEO ranking.

Include relevant keywords like cuisine type, signature dish, or the outlet name if you have multiple locations.

The Cost of Inaction: Missed Opportunities from Poor Execution

Many restaurants fail to capitalize on Google Maps reviews simply due to a lack of purposeful execution. Here’s what they are missing out on:

🚫 Lower Foot Traffic – Restaurants ranking low in Google search results receive significantly fewer walk-ins.

🚫 Weaker Brand Credibility – Low review counts make customers hesitant to try a restaurant, even if it has a high rating.

🚫 Lost Revenue to Competitors – Restaurants with high review volumes dominate search rankings and attract a disproportionate share of new customers.

Conclusion: Execute Purposefully, Win More Customers

Growing your restaurant’s Google Maps presence requires a deliberate and continuous effort. Set a clear goal of reaching at least 1,000 reviews if you want to compete in your area. Prioritize quantity over perfection, aim for high rankings in local and cuisine searches, and integrate SEO best practices to maximize your visibility. Restaurants that actively cultivate Google Reviews will see higher discoverability, more walk-ins, and increased revenue—a direct payoff for executing with purpose.

Next Steps: Take Control of Your Restaurant’s Digital Reputation

✅ Audit your current Google Reviews ranking.

✅ Set a specific target for review quantity based on local and cuisine benchmarks.

✅ Implement a structured plan to collect, engage, and optimize your reviews.

Oddle helps restaurants grow sales by capturing diners and automating reviews.

Speak to us for a free Google Maps consultation.

Your restaurant’s growth starts with a single review—make every customer count.