The thinking behind the numbers

Descriptive,
not scientific.

My rating system is intentionally descriptive rather than scientific. It records my personal experience of a meal in real time, recognising that we all value different aspects of hospitality. Some will prize the craft behind a beautifully plated dish; others will place greater weight on the warmth of the room or the ease of service.

To reflect those discrete priorities, the evaluation is divided into five independent elements: Comfort, Soul, Mastery, Taste and the concluding "Would I die happy?". Each is scored one to ten, on its own merits.

The figures are not added to create a single headline total; instead, they sit side by side to give a balanced view of where a restaurant excels and where it may fall short.

Menus evolve, chefs move on and dining rooms acquire new rhythms, so every set of scores should be read as a point in time snapshot rather than a permanent judgement.

The five elements
  1. 01

    Comfort

    1–10

    The vibe and the aesthetics of the place; the service and how they make you feel; the level of ambiance and warmth you feel navigating the restaurant and throughout the meal; the fact that you can be yourself and let down your hair to enjoy your meal.

  2. 02

    Soul

    1–10

    Feeling the deep heart and meaning that went into the cooking; celebrating the origin or ancestry of the food; delivering on the promise and intention of the menu; giving attention and consideration to the ingredients; showcasing intentional and thoughtful approaches to dishes.

  3. 03

    Mastery

    1–10

    The expertise and craft required to execute a dish; the presentation, theatre, and visual delivery and appeal of the dish.

  4. 04

    Taste

    1–10

    Combining the quality of ingredients, taste, smell, richness, balance, mouthfeel and texture to achieve depth of flavour.

  5. 05

    Would I die happy?

    1–10

    If this was my last meal on earth, would I die happy?

A scorecard, in practice

Five numbers, side by side. Read across, never down: each dot shows where a single visit landed on the one-to-ten scale.

Worked example

A neighbourhood bistro

South Brisbane · Modern Australian · Visited March 2026

  1. Comfort 6.0/10
  2. Soul 9.0/10
  3. Mastery 8.5/10
  4. Taste 9.5/10
  5. Would I die happy? 8.5/10
Even when a room falls short, soulful cooking can carry the night. The five numbers let both truths sit side by side.

Not gospel, just gut feeling (literally).

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