Over the weekend, it was my birthday, so I had fun celebrating. Even on my birthday, I stayed busy, going to concerts, eating, etc.

Despite being occupied with other tasks, I'm proud of how productive I was... 

I finished this newsletter much earlier than usual!

Am I really weird for being happy that I worked on my birthday? 🤔

Getting food poisoning on a trip can completely ruin it! The worst part about food poisoning is that you can be perfectly healthy one second and then sick the next from just one bad dish.

I don't mean to be negative. But here's the thing, If you eat three times a day, that's three chances in that day to get food poisoning. If you're on a trip for a week, that's 21 different chances!

So, the whole point is that you want to be sure that where you're eating is safe.

Before I dive in, I want to clarify that this has nothing to do with how cheap or expensive a restaurant is. There are reasonably priced restaurants that are super clean, while some expensive ones are downright unclean.

Here’s a true story that illustrates what I am trying to get across...

I was speaking with a health inspector in Philadelphia who relayed an incident from an upscale restaurant (which shall remain unnamed). Apparently, a rat jumped onto the cooking board while the chef was cooking. Unfazed, the chef sliced the rat in half with his cleaver and continued preparing the food on the same cutting board. 🤢

Moral of the story: Don’t let the type of venue fool you about its cleanliness.

So, here are a few tips I use to evaluate if a restaurant is safe to eat at when traveling.

Check the Bathroom

I also always check the bathroom, a tip I received from someone in the restaurant industry. Attention to detail is important, and if the staff allows one of the potentially dirtiest places in the restaurant to remain unclean, it could suggest other overlooked issues. 

Smell the Restaurant

I also avoid restaurants with any odd smells, and I'm not talking about food smells. I can’t describe it, I'm referring to that funky type of smell. An unpleasant odor could indicate that there are many things wrong with the hygiene of the restaurant.

Skip the Ice

When traveling to countries with uncertain water quality and safety, avoid consuming tap water or beverages containing ice made from it. To safeguard your health and prevent potential waterborne diseases, stick to bottled drinks. These are generally safer as they are less likely to be contaminated.

Avoid Empty Restaurants

I'm always cautious about empty restaurants. The food might not be good, or perhaps the locals might know something I don't. I also wonder about the freshness of the food, particularly if the restaurant doesn't get a lot of customers. Either way, I'm not taking any chances. Someone else can give that restaurant the benefit of the doubt.

Trust Your Gut

Your subconscious is constantly absorbing information. If something doesn't feel right, it's better not to eat at that place. Experiencing food poisoning while traveling is not fun, and it's much easier to find another restaurant. Therefore, if you're feeling uneasy, it's best to leave. It's not worth the risk.

Keep traveling,

Andrew

What would make you decide to leave a restaurant?