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.

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 the energy up.”

In addition to operational duties like working with vendors and managing inventory, managers should be greeting customers, taking their fee

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