What's in a name?

A restaurant’s name can sometimes make or break the business. Of course there are obvious drawbacks to deciding meals based on mere nomenclature, but picking a place based on its moniker can lead to interesting results. Consider the following list of local eats:

Category 1: Restaurants named after people

Examples: Michael’s Place, Mrs. Shanen’s Bagels, Kro’s Nest, Elaine’s Vegetarian Restaurant, Victor’s Place, Tim’s BBQ

Price Range: Cheap to moderate
Food Quality: All of these places are known for no-frills food, generous portions and are good for everyday meals.
Justification: The names of these places are associated with their owners or head chefs (or the owner is the chef), and potentially big egos aside, these restaurants are great places to congregate when you’re looking for a good time.
Advice: Go with friends or family for a good meal when you don’t feel like cooking, but beware, these places are not always suitable for impressing dates unless they are into cheap dates.
Notable Exception: Justine’s – the prices at this upscale French restaurant are anything but cheap.

Category 2: Restaurants without an English name that have some kind of Chinese word related to food.

Examples: Chengdu Xiaochi 成都小吃，Sichuan Fanzhuang 四川饭庄

Price Range: Very cheap
Food Quality: These joints usually prove that virtually anything can taste good with the right amount of MSG and oil – so long as you watch out for cockroaches and laduzi. Eater’s discretion is advised.
Justification: Considering these places are usually in little hutongs or owned by a family, don’t expect too much. Sanitation is not always a top priory. Just be lucky your order arrived cooked and hot.
Advice: When you’re living off 50 kuai a day, these places can be a lifesaver. Only eat here when you’re really strapped for cash or you want to get the whole “China Experience.”
Exceptions: Huangcheng Shifu 黄城食府: This imperial restaurant has opulent setting and you can’t get anything for under 50 kuai. The provincial representative Offices also have excellent restaurants that are moderately priced as well.

Category 3: Restaurants with weird names that have nothing to do with food

Example: Paper, Bloo, Face, Sit, Lan

Price Range: Pretty pricey
Food Quality: Although they pay a lot of attention to details, you really go to these places for the ambiance, rather than the typically overpriced food.
Justification: These establishments are usually owned by people who have a keen eye for interior design – their abstract names, contemporary designs and crafty dishes are reflected in the prices.
If you go: Go for the hipness, but dining here everyday requires a fat bank account.
Exception: Pharaoh: Odd name aside, this Chaowai crêperie restaurant sports minimal designs and hearty, modestly-priced food.

Category 4: Restaurant names that do not quite match what they really are

Examples: My Humble House (the prices of their tiny portions are anything but “humble”); In and Out (no, not the Beijing branch of the popular Southern California burger chain, but a Yunnan restaurant instead); Elvis (No velvet painting of The King here, just Japanese fare); and Bellagio (the Italian bistro-sounding Taiwanese restaurant is a favorite for hipsters and night-owls alike).

Price Range: Varies from modest to exorbitant
Food Quality: For the most part, these places serve good food (especially considering the deceptive names!)
Justification: Whether the owner is just pulling our legs or it’s just a literal translation from Chinese, we don’t appreciate the curve ball.
If you go: These places are not what you perceive them to be so be careful. You could be walking into a very expensive establishment when you think you’re going for burgers and fries.
Exceptions: None that we know of.