We have created a training guide that you can view here (best viewed in Firefox). Please review it before you submit this HIT!
In this HIT we are asking you to confirm whether a location is a valid restaurant that is open for business, based on research you conduct online. Note: we have combined the options for "Closed" and "I don't know". If you cannot find enough information to judge the restaurant as open, please choose this option.
What sources should I use to research each establishment?
- BEST: Focus on finding a webpage on the restaurant's official website that lists address and contact details for this specific location (for restaurant chains using a store locator is a helpful way to look up a specific location)
- If no official website exists, try to find an official Facebook page - i.e., one that is created by and includes posts from the restaurant. A user-generated and editable Facebook location page is not sufficient evidence.
- If you cannot find any official online presence, use the Google Search link to search for a third-party website that has a listing for this restaurant. Focus on third-party sites with recent (i.e., within the last 6 months) content such as reviews and photos. Directory sites without reviews are not sufficient evidence that a restaurant is open.
- If you cannot find any suitable URL to support your judgment, paste in the URL from your Google search results into the Google Search URL field.
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How do I know if an establishment is a restaurant?
Criteria for restaurants:
- Must serve meals, prepared food and/or refreshments - this encompasses cafes/coffee shops, bakeries, sandwich shops, delis, fast food, and casual dining as well as formal fine dining
- Must be open to the general public
- Must have tables and places to sit down or be strictly take-out
- Stationary - i.e., can be found at a specified address/location (permitted exception: food trucks, moving or stationary, with an official website qualify)
- MUST be family-friendly (i.e., no strip clubs)
Not considered a restaurant:
- Grocery stores, convenience stores or food markets even those that serve prepared-food, have a deli or bakery should not be classified as restaurants
- Food wholesaler/distributor and restaurant supply businesses
- Catering businesses; Personal chefs
- Banquet and event spaces for private functions or members clubs
- Places that only serve alcoholic drinks and not food (e.g., some bars and pubs)
- Non-family friendly places including hookah bars and cigar lounges
How do I know if an establishment is still open?
Criteria for judging a restaurant to be open:
- Listed on restaurant's official website OR
- Valid Facebook page for the location with activity within the past 6 months OR
- At least one review or photo from the past six months on a third-party site
Criteria for judging a restaurant to be closed:
- Not listed on official website
- Direct evidence restaurant went out of business
- Last activity on official social media presence or third party review site over 6 months ago
What if some details about the restaurant have changed?
There are several common scenarios:
- The name of the restaurant has changed, but all other details are the same, including phone number: Please list the restaurant as open, but remember to update the name before you submit.
- The address on the official website has the same street, but a different street number: if the street number is only slightly different (e.g., it may be a typo in our listing), update the address and judge it as still open. Otherwise, judge it as closed.
- If we haven't provided an official URL, but you are able to find one, please update the details before you submit.