1. Rating Scale (0 to 5.0)
Every review culminates in a numerical rating out of 5, awarded in 0.5 or 0.1 increments. Our scoring reflects the holistic dining experience relative to price point and cuisine expectations:
2. Editorial Independence & Sponsored Content
We do not accept paid reviews or sponsored ratings. Restaurants and PR agencies cannot pay to be reviewed, nor can they purchase or alter review scores.
Our reviews represent our genuine, unvarnished opinions based on our experience at the time of dining.
3. Invited / Complimentary Visits
On occasion, Penguin Eats receives invitations from venues or PR representatives to sample a menu or attend a launch. To maintain complete transparency:
- Any review resulting from an invited, complimentary, or hosted meal is clearly tagged with a prominent "The Penguin dined as a guest of the restaurant" disclosure banner at the top of the review.
- Acceptance of an invitation never guarantees a favorable review or a high rating. All feedback remains strictly honest.
4. Venue Closures & Updates
The Melbourne dining scene evolves rapidly. When a reviewed restaurant permanently shuts its doors:
- We retain the historical review in our archive to preserve Melbourne's culinary history.
- We mark the review with a "Permanently Closed" notice and provide direct links to active alternatives in the same suburb.
- Closed venues are excluded from "Top Rated" rankings and active recommendation modules.
5. Corrections & Feedback
If you spot factual errors regarding venue locations, opening hours, or address details, please let us know via our contact channels.