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Not every restaurant outing offers a five-star experience — and diners don't always need to taste the food to know something is off.

From management gaps to social media hype, key signs can tip you off early to a disappointing experience, say restaurant insiders.

These red flags suggest a restaurant may be struggling with service, quality or culture, according to experts.

SCAM LEAVES RESTAURANT WAITRESS STUNNED AS DINERS LAUGH IN HER FACE: 'WHY IS THIS THE NORM?'

Any of these sound familiar when it comes to a restaurant you know?

1. There's no management presence

"Great managers are visible," Salar Sheik, a restaurant consultant based in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital.

"They touch tables, support staff and keep th

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