How FoodIndex Rankings Work
Transparent scoring from multi-platform signals — not ads, not sponsorships.
FoodIndex Score
The FoodIndex Score (0–100) is a composite built from the same public signals diners already use: star ratings and review counts on major platforms. We pull structured inputs from Google Reviews, Yelp, and Uber Eats, normalize them so one platform cannot drown out another, and weight quality, volume, and cross-platform consistency so a single inflated channel does not dictate the result.
Higher ratings matter more than raw popularity alone, but sufficient review volume is required for confidence: very small samples are treated cautiously. When platforms disagree sharply, the model penalizes inconsistency. When a restaurant is missing from a platform, confidence drops rather than letting gaps hide weak performance. The formula also resists short-term manipulation: sudden review bursts or patterns that look promotional carry less weight than sustained, multi-platform performance over time.
Scores and ranks are refreshed weekly from the latest available data. We recompute the full leaderboard for each city, category, and neighborhood slice we publish so category pages reflect momentum—not a frozen snapshot from months ago.
Data Sources
- Google Reviews — broad audience ratings and review volume.
- Yelp — a second opinion layer that balances single-platform bias.
- Uber Eats — delivery execution signals where data exists.
Score Principles
- Quality beats popularity
- Review count builds confidence, not dominance
- Small sample sizes are treated cautiously
- Consistency across platforms is rewarded; inconsistency is penalized
- No single platform can carry a restaurant
- Scores must be resistant to manipulation
- Restaurants cannot pay to rank higher — sponsorships are labeled separately
Top N rankings
- Neighborhood × food: Top 10
- City × food: Top 25
- State rankings: Top 50
A ranking page is indexable only when enough qualifying venues exist for that scope.
Featured In
Restaurant profiles become indexable when they appear in an indexable ranking, collection, or guide — unless an editorial index override is set.