A TRAVEL expert has revealed the tell-tale sign that the restaurant you’re visiting is a “tourist trap” – and what to look for instead.
Holidaymakers can find “authentic and delicious” meals and avoid being ripped off if they can spot the red flag.
Experienced continent hopper Constantina Demos shared some of the key ways Brits can weed out the overpriced hotspots and find something a little more genuine.
Writing for Delicious, she said: “When I travel I have a dining bucket list.
“I’m a woman on a mission… to ensure each meal I eat is authentic and delicious.
“I’ve fallen victim to choosing convenience (and a hungry stomach) over effort and stumbled into the first restaurant I came across without doing due diligence.
“I’m left unsatisfied by an average meal that I’ve paid way too much for.
“But throughout my travels, I’ve curated a mental list of red flags that indicate a restaurant is a tourist trap.”
The most important of these can be seen before you even step through the door, pick up a menu or order a drink.
Constantina advised Brits to steer clear of any establishment with a host or manager standing outside trying to usher customers inside.
Even worse, if they are yelling out the daily specials to attract diners, it’s time to run a mile.
While they are likely just doing their job, it suggests that the restaurant is not the sort of place that is frequented by locals and relies on visitors to get bums on seats.
Think about your favourite restaurants back home – very few will have a host outside drumming up business because people living in the area already know it’s the place to be.
Similarly, swathes of empty tables at peak times can indicate a similar desperation for unknowing tourists being lured in.
Fortunately, Constantina was able to share a number of green flags to help you pick a place to go.
Try an find somewhere away from major attractions and look out for menus in the language of the country you are in.
Unfamiliar dishes are also a good sign as they suggest that the restaurant is not serving anglicised version of national dishes.
The best hidden gems are often smaller and will tend to be buzzing with diners, mostly local people served by local staff.
Just imagine you are picking a spot in the UK and want to avoid chains or tourist hotspots – if you get the same vibe abroad as you do in your favourite places at home then it’s a solid bet.
It comes after we gave readers a look inside the Spanish city where you can buy homemade cookies made by nuns from a convent window.