Investigate

• One of the best ways to find a great local restaurant is to watch for places that are packed. If you have the chance, stop inside a packed house to find out who is inside. A dining place that is full of locals is usually that way because the food, experience or service is worthy of return. Look for tell-tale signs touristy restaurants by seeing if there are nearby train depots, bus stations, or popular tourist attractions. Remember that restaurants that cater to visitors tend to water down the experience because of the high volume of customers they may receive.
  
  Another way is simply ask people in the areas about good places to eat. This will usually yield a few passionate leads from locals who know their town. If you get too many places as recommendations, then narrow your search by eliminating places you know about or by food types you aren't in the mood for.
  
  

Reviews

• Many city guide books list restaurants and may even rate or review them. Getting online to find a great local restaurant can also be a fruitful venture. Utilizing websites such as restaurants.com and dine.com will often helpful user reviews that are posted from real experiences. You can also perform searches by city and state.
  
  

Rules to Follow

• If you are going to a restaurant with your children, then looking for restaurants that cater to children's needs is something to keep in mind. Other needs such as diet requirements or allergies should also be considered.
  
  If you have the time, try to visit more than one restaurant before settling on a place to eat. Physically evaluating the restaurant will make the choice easier (or harder, if they are even). Ask for a take-away menu so you can peek in the door and get a gander at the place. This will also ensure that you know some of the pricing of the food and that you don't go to a place that is a total aesthetic disappointment.