I'm not a writer, but I like food and read reviews.

There are a lot of restaurant choices in my town, even within a given niche. My thing is weekend breakfasts, and there are many excellent choices. I try to go to a new place from time to time but have a few I regularly return to. So what sets them apart? They all have food that tastes good. For me it's the comfort. That means friendliness of the employees, comfort of the waiting area (is it an entryway or is it open and out of the way) and comfort at my seat.

So what I like to see in a review is a comment on how streamlined it is. Is it self seating with a mob by the door stalking people about to get up, or is there a smooth process for them to take your name and a comfortable area out of the way to wait?

The staff can make or break a restaurant for me. When talking to the owners, maybe ask them to discuss their staff. If the owner proudly talks about the wonderful people working for them, that's a good sign.

Food matters, of course, but it's everything else that makes a place stand out for me.