The "FAQ's" - Best Places to Eat in Florida
What is "Best Places to Eat in Florida"?
Best Places to Eat in Florida is a website where residents and visitors of the sunshine state can go to find the best food truck or restaurant within the area. It is a division of the Florida Food & Dining Guide, AKA - All About the Sunshine State and is launching in 2026. The unparalleled exclusivity of being the sole restaurant in its category and city, with no competition for a full year, sets this website apart from all others.
If you have been nominated for being one of the best places to eat within your community, you deserve the recognition for the hard work and passion that you have dedicated to your establishment and we would be honored to crown your company as one of the Best Places to Eat in Florida.
If Chosen, How Long Will I Wear the Crown?
If you are chosen to wear the crown as being the best restaurant, food truck or food related business within your city, you will hold the title for twelve straight months and then have the ability to earn the title again - year after year.
Who is allowed to advertise on this site?
The restaurants featured on Best Places to Eat in Florida have been carefully chosen to represent the finest dining experiences in the sunshine state. The winners are crowned by votes of both the residents and visitors of Florida, as well as our staff members.
Will I Be the Only Restaurant on Best Places to Eat in Florida?
If chosen, your restaurant, food truck or food related business will be the only* company within your category, in your community for an entire year. Our criteria is stringent, allowing only ONE business per category, per city at a time. ( based on 70,000 residents ) With that being said, if you happen to be in a city where the population is a few hundred thousand, there is a chance that you may share the crown with an additional winner or more. ALSO - for the much smaller communities, there will be a limit of only one crown per COUNTY instead of per city. Check the population of your city now.
What Do I Get for Winning the Crown?
Winning the Crown is not only an opportunity to gain recognition and exposure, but also a testament to your hard work and commitment to providing the best dining experience in Florida. Not only would you have the exclusive spot on BestPlacestoEatinFlorida.com, winners receive an decal to place within their website and social media platforms showing that they are one of the "Best Places to Eat in Florida" for that particular year, an award that can be framed and hung on a wall within their establishment and the exclusivity of being the one and only establishment within their category and community. You would also be featured in a variety of print and online marketing initiatives throughout the year.
I am Part of a Franchise - Can we All Win the Crown?
NO. Unfortunately, the food related businesses crowned "Best Places to Eat in Florida" are based on an exact location and carefully chosen by the residents and visitors of the sunshine state as well as the staff members here at EAD. Each location has different crews and atmosphere, making it slightly different at each place. However, feel free to Submit an Application per location and we'll let you know which ones qualify.
What Happens if I Win the Crown this Year But Lose it Next?
You don't have to wear the crown in order to be promoted to the residents and visitors of the sunshine state. The Florida Food & Dining Guide has been promoting local companies for over twenty years. Since 2005 to be exact. Our expertise in the industry will not only brand your name and help you get found online but will push you higher on the search engines with our proven marketing strategies. Whether you are crowned or not, you should keep your annual membership current at all times to qualify and be considered for the upcoming crown.
How Much Does it Cost to Be a Member of the Florida Food & Dining Guide?
If your establishment has been nominated as one of the best places to eat in Florida, the cost of an annual membership is $399 per year and guaranteed to never increase. If, for some reason you lose the crown down the road your locked in rate of $399 stays the same. Members are encouraged to pay part of their annual memberships with gift cards.
What are the Gift Cards For?
Members are encouraged to pay for part of their membership each year with gift cards to their establishment. The reason is to give us an additional avenue for bringing new faces through your doors. We will use them over a 12 month period for contests, giveaways and perks. We like to see increments of $25 to maximize your results. If choosing to pay for part of your membership with gift cards, you may choose anywhere from $50 to $100 a year.
What are Some Examples of Contests that You will Be Doing Throughout the Year?
Savor the Sunshine State is going to be HUGE. We will be starting that later this year. Restaurants, food trucks and food related companies in the Florida Food & Dining Guide will compete weekly to win the title for categories such as; the most unique burger, perfectly seared steak, the best meatloaf, chocolate ice cream, home-made pie, BBQ sauce, crab rangoons, deep dish pizza, chicken wings, and street tacos on a regular basis. If it's on a menu, we are on a mission to find the best version and reveal it to the residents and visitors of the sunshine state.
I'm Already the Best Place to Eat within My Community - I Don't Have Competition:
And you might just be, however - every successful business owner knows the importance of online advertising. Now, more than ever. Just because you may be the only BBQ place in town doesn't mean that "everyone" has been there. Especially the visitors who are traveling through town or the new folks moving to the area and have never heard your name. Unless you physically can not handle seeing new faces coming through your door, you need to promote your restaurant just as much as everyone else. It's imperative to be found online and "I've got too much exposure" is said by no-one. So, if you're offered the crown take it... it's a no-brainer wouldn't you say?!
What is a Category?
Categories include; American, Asian, BBQ, Cajun & Creole, Coffee, Tea & Drinks, Diners, Delis & Bistros, Fast Food, Fine Dining, Food Trucks, Gastropub, German, Healthy, Vegan & Organic, Indian, Italian, Latin, Seafood, Southern, Sports Bars, Sweets N Treats, & Waterfront Dining. Don't see your category? Let us know! We also have categories for top internet searches such as; Kids Eat Free, All You Can Eat, Happy Hour, Etc.
Once I Sign Up, How Long Will it Take Before My Business Listing(s) are Completed and Go Live?
Once payment has been made, Please allow up to 72 hours for your business listing to be completed in the Florida Food & Dining Guide and your company spotlighted on Best Places to Eat in Florida. We will contact you if additional information is needed. One of our staff members will contact you by email once finished with a link to your pages, your icon to use on your website and social media accounts and the award to print and hang proudly on the wall of your establishment. Window Decals will be sent out by mail or hand delivered when picking up gift cards.
What are My "Business Listings" Going to Look Like?
You will receive a full page business listing in the Florida Food & Dining Guide. This page can be designed however you may like. It can describe your establishment, speak about the owner and the staff members, go into detail about how it all started, talk about your menu items, specials and weekly events or happenings. The page offers unlimited space for information about your company. We will also add your social media and website links, a photo gallery and even a video if you'd like. You will be found within the directory numerous ways, including; browsing within the Florida Food & Dining Guide, using the category search or by the use of keywords. You will also be listed under your city guide and county directory making it an extremely easy way to be found online! Here's an example page. You will get a full page and we can design it however you'd like! Your listing on BestPlacestoEatinFlorida.com will look different and focus on your establishment being the ONLY place within your category and community.
With over 40,000 restaurants in Florida, our team of experts have dedicated countless hours to perfecting "Best Places to Eat in Florida" by seeking businesses in Florida whom we believe provide the ultimate dining experience for both the residents and visitors of the sunshine state. These companies must provide a clean facility, friendly staff and popular menu options. Not to mention, fantastic food! If you believe your that your business showcases the same level of dedication and excellence, we would be honored to have you wear the crown and spotlight your company on our site. However, our criteria is stringent, allowing only ONE business per category, per city at a time. Apply Now to see if you qualify.
Have more questions? Feel free to call us at 863-937-9676 or email: discover@bestplacestoeatinflorida.com.
together, we are the sunshine state
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