17 Food Critic Interview Questions and Answers

Food critics, also called restaurant reviewers, are trained professionals who visit restaurants and rate the food, atmosphere, and service. They also write detailed reviews that are published in newspapers, magazines, or online.

If you want to become a food critic, you need to have a strong knowledge of the food industry, as well as excellent writing skills. You also need to be able to think critically and objectively about the food you’re tasting.

Before you can start writing reviews, you need to get a job as a food critic. And to do that, you need to be able to answer food critic interview questions. In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to prepare for your interview, as well as some sample questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the food critic community in our area?

Employers may ask this question to see if you have any connections in the food critic community. If you do, they might want to know how you plan to use those connections to benefit their publication. If you don’t, they might want to know whether you would be willing to make connections with local food critics.

Example: “I am familiar with several of the food critics in our area and I’ve been following them for years. I think it’s important to support local businesses, so I try to visit as many restaurants as possible before writing my reviews. I also like to get a feel for what other food critics are saying about a restaurant before I write my own review.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a food critic to have?

Employers ask this question to make sure you have the right skills and experience for the job. They want someone who can be objective, knowledgeable about food and passionate about their work. When answering this question, think of some of your own qualities that help you do your job well.

Example: “I believe a food critic needs to be an expert in all things culinary. You need to know what makes good food great and how to tell if it’s not up to par. I also think it’s important to be able to write clearly and concisely. Food critics are often asked to review restaurants or dishes quickly, so they need to be able to get their thoughts down on paper without taking too long.”

How would you describe your writing style?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your writing style and how you would approach their publication. Your answer should include a few examples of the types of articles you’ve written in the past, along with any specific details that make your work unique.

Example: “I think my writing style is very descriptive. I like to use vivid language to help readers really experience what they’re reading. For example, when I was reviewing a local restaurant for my college newspaper, I wrote an entire review based on one bite of food. The piece was titled ‘One Bite Is All It Takes,’ and it included all the flavors I tasted from just one bite of the dish. My editor loved it so much that we published it as a full page ad in the paper.”

What is your experience with using social media to share your opinions?

Employers may want to know how you use social media and if you have any experience with it. They might also ask about your opinions on the topic of food criticism in general, such as whether or not you think it’s important for a publication to have one.

Example: “I’ve used social media quite a bit over the years to share my thoughts on restaurants I visit. I find that it’s an excellent way to connect with other people who are interested in food and give them some insight into what I thought about a particular restaurant. It can be fun to see what others think of my reviews too.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to remain objective when reviewing a dish you didn’t like.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to remain professional and objective when reviewing a dish or restaurant. In your answer, try to demonstrate that you can separate your personal preferences from the quality of the food.

Example: “When I was working as a freelance food critic for my local newspaper, I had to review a new seafood restaurant in town. The restaurant served many dishes with a lot of butter, which is not something I typically enjoy. However, I tried to focus on the taste of the food rather than my personal preference. After trying several different dishes, I found that the restaurant’s fish and chips were delicious. I ended up giving them a positive review because they exceeded my expectations despite my dislike for buttery foods.”

If a chef or restaurant owner was unhappy with your review, how would you handle the situation?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to handle conflict. In your answer, try to emphasize your problem-solving and communication skills.

Example: “If a chef or restaurant owner was unhappy with my review, I would first listen to their concerns and take notes on what they’re saying. Then, I would explain that I can’t change the content of my review but I am happy to publish a clarification if needed. If the situation escalated, I would contact my editor for advice.”

What would you do if you received free food or drinks while reviewing a restaurant?

Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the ethical responsibilities of a food critic. They want to know that you will not compromise your integrity for free food or drinks. In your answer, explain how you would handle this situation and emphasize that you would never accept anything from a restaurant in exchange for a positive review.

Example: “I would politely decline any free food or drink because I do not want to risk compromising my integrity as a food critic. If I accepted something from a restaurant, it could be perceived as me accepting payment for a good review. Even if I did receive something, I would still write an honest review. I would just include the fact that I received free food or drinks in my review so people knew about it.”

How well do you know the local food scene?

The interviewer may ask this question to see how much you know about the food scene in their city. To answer, list a few restaurants that are popular among locals and describe what makes them unique or interesting.

Example: “I’ve been following the local food scene for years now, so I’m familiar with many of the most popular places. For example, there’s a restaurant called The French Bistro that serves authentic French cuisine. They have an extensive wine menu and offer live jazz music on Friday nights. Another place is The Burger Joint, which has some of the best burgers in town. Their secret sauce is amazing.”

Do you have any suggestions on how we could improve our food offerings?

This question can help employers determine how you might approach your job as a food critic. They want to know that you’re going to be honest and helpful in your critiques, so they may ask this question to see if you have any suggestions for improving their menu or restaurant offerings. In your answer, try to think of ways the company could improve its food offerings without being too critical.

Example: “I think one thing you could do to improve your menu is add more vegetarian options. I noticed there were only two vegetarian dishes on the entire menu, which seems like an oversight when many people are choosing to eat less meat these days. Adding some new vegetarian dishes would give customers more variety and allow them to enjoy delicious meals while still sticking to their dietary preferences.”

When reviewing a restaurant, what is your process for checking the kitchen and dining area?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your process for reviewing a restaurant and how you interact with the staff. They want to know that you are respectful of their establishment, but also that you’re thorough in your review. In your answer, explain what steps you take when visiting a restaurant and why you do them.

Example: “I always start by checking out the kitchen area before I sit down at my table. This helps me see if there is any food prep going on or if they have enough staff working during peak hours. Next, I check out the dining room to make sure it’s clean and well-maintained. If there are customers waiting, I will talk to them briefly to get an idea of how long they’ve been waiting and if they feel like they’ve received good service so far. Finally, I order something from the menu and eat it while taking notes.”

We want to improve our customer service. What is one area we could improve?

This question is a great way to show your critical thinking skills and how you can help improve an organization. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you see as the problem and offer solutions or ideas for improvement.

Example: “I noticed that when I came in for lunch, there was only one server working the floor. This made it difficult for them to get all of their tables taken care of quickly. If I were you, I would hire another server so they could work with the current employee to ensure everyone got their food within a reasonable amount of time.”

Describe your experience with writing reviews for online publications.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your writing experience and how you approach the task. Your answer should include a brief description of what publications you’ve worked for, the types of reviews you wrote and any other relevant details that showcase your skills as a writer.

Example: “I have been working as a freelance food critic for five years now. I started out with an online publication where I reviewed restaurants in my city. After gaining some experience, I began reviewing restaurants throughout the state. Eventually, I was able to write restaurant reviews for national publications.”

What makes you the best candidate for this food critic position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this role. Focus on highlighting your relevant experience and any unique qualities or skills that might be beneficial in this position.

Example: “I am passionate about food and have been writing professionally for several years now. I also have extensive knowledge of local restaurants and would love to share my insights with others. My passion for food is what drives me to do my best work every day, so I know I would bring enthusiasm and creativity to this role.”

Which food or beverage cultures do you have the most experience with?

This question can help employers learn more about your background and experience. They may want to know if you have any experience with the culture of their restaurant or bar, so they can see how much you could contribute to their business. If you don’t have experience in that type of food or beverage, consider what other cultures you’ve worked with before.

Example: “I have a lot of experience working with Asian cuisine, as I grew up in an Asian family. My parents owned a Chinese takeout restaurant when I was growing up, so I learned a lot about cooking different types of Asian foods. I also spent some time traveling through Asia, which helped me develop my palate for new flavors.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of a food critic’s job?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the role and how you would perform it. You can answer this question by explaining what you think a food critic’s job entails, then giving your opinion on which part of the job is most important.

Example: “I believe that the most important aspect of being a food critic is having a discerning palate. A good food critic should be able to taste the subtle differences between dishes and know when something tastes off or if there are any inconsistencies in flavor or texture. I also think it’s important for a food critic to have a background in cooking so they understand the process behind creating a dish and can recognize when a chef has done well.”

How often would you like to review new restaurants?

This question can help interviewers understand how often you would be willing to travel for work. If the position requires traveling, employers may want to know that you are comfortable with this aspect of the job. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific number of times per year or month that you would like to review new restaurants.

Example: “I would love to visit new restaurants at least once every two weeks. I find that reviewing new places helps me stay up-to-date on what’s trending in the food industry and gives me more ideas for my own cooking.”

There is a new food trend that you don’t like. How would you describe it in your review?

This question is a great way to test your ability to be honest in your reviews. Employers want food critics who can write about their opinions without being overly negative or offensive. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to give constructive criticism and explain why you don’t like the dish.

Example: “I would describe it as an overpriced version of something I could make at home. The ingredients were fresh but not anything special. It was also very salty, which made me feel bloated after eating it. If I had ordered this dish on my own, I would have sent it back because it wasn’t worth the price. However, if someone else had paid for it, I would have been more positive in my review.”