You know the feeling. You are hungry, you pull up a restaurant on your phone, and there are no reviews at all. Zero stars, zero comments. Do you take the chance or drive on to the place you already know? Food creator Brennen Taylor decided to walk in, and what he found has him telling people in and around Jackson, Tennessee, to go try the spot.
The video comes from the YouTube channel Brennen Taylor, in an episode called “I Tried an Indian Restaurant with NO Reviews.” According to the video’s description, the restaurant is at 1938 Bypass US-45 N in Jackson, Tennessee. Brennen noticed one big clue right away: the parking lot was full. “If you see all these cars here, they’re all inside,” he said, and that made the lack of reviews seem even stranger.
A Fancy Surprise Inside
Brennen announced that it was time for “Create That Rating.” Inside, he found guests seated at elegant tables. “Oh dude, this is fancy food,” he said. “This was not what I was expecting.”
His first impression was that the restaurant seemed brand new. “Everything in here is in pristine condition. It’s almost like this might be their first round of guests… it looks like the paint’s still wet.” He added, “I feel clean in here, cozy, cool. It feels like a date spot.”
The servers were friendly and joked around with the table. Staff told the diners that the restaurant opened around Mother’s Day, that weekends are a little slower, and that it is getting better. They also said the most popular items are the appetizers, plus the lamb chop and the malai kebab.
What They Ordered
Brennen and his friend Jake ordered the lasooni gobi, lamb chop, butter chicken masala, goat biryani and garlic naan, all extra spicy. Staff brought out drinks “on the house.”
Brennen was quick to say that does not buy a good review. “If you ever see us in your restaurant, free food, free drinks ain’t going to help you. We still give real raw reviews,” he said. His reasoning: “No hardworking American needs to go out and spend their hard-earned money on bad food.” He also joked that, without a sponsor, they should not be drinking certain soft drinks.
Then came the verdict on the food. “The food is excellent,” he said. “We will say that the customer service is really nice.”
The Most Futuristic Toilet
The funniest moment of the video happens in the restroom. Brennen found a heated, sensor-controlled toilet seat and called it the “most futuristic toilet I’ve ever seen.” He said he wants to buy one for his own house. He also gave the room a smell test, and reported that it “does not smell like an Indian restaurant at all.” His rating: “I give this a 9.8 just because of this toilet seat.”
Paying, Tipping and Writing the Reviews
At the end of the meal, the pair insisted on paying and leaving cash, because the restaurant had no tip line. “It says everything is from them,” Brennen said. “Can I pay something so I can leave a tip, because you guys were very nice to me.”
Then they wrote their ratings. Brennen’s five-star review read: “This place is delish. I couldn’t believe how fresh and how clean it was. The butter chicken was out of this world. I will definitely be back, and I don’t even live locally… The smoked shrimp was the icing on the cake. Real good service, great ambiance. 10 out of 10. We found a unicorn.”
Jake also gave five stars: “I’ve been craving good Indian food and who would have thought this was in Jackson, Tennessee. My favorite was the chicken masala and the goat biryani. I will be back. 100 out of 10.”
Brennen closed with a message for locals: “I think we set this restaurant up for greatness… If you live in or near Jackson, Tennessee, you need to come and try this spot.”
How to Decide on a Restaurant With No Reviews
A brand-new place will always have zero reviews on day one, so a blank page is not the same as a bad sign. If you are tempted to be the first in the door, here are some general tips.
- Look at the parking lot. Brennen’s first clue was a full lot. A busy restaurant tells you that real people are choosing to eat there.
- Peek inside first. Cleanliness, friendly staff and a tidy dining room are easy to judge in the first minute.
- Ask what is popular. The staff here pointed the diners to the appetizers, the lamb chop and the malai kebab. Asking for recommendations also tells you how much the staff care.
- Be clear about spice. They ordered everything extra spicy. If you prefer milder food, say so when you order.
- Leave an honest review. New restaurants depend on early feedback, and a specific review that mentions dishes and service helps the next hungry guest.
- Tip where you can. When this restaurant had no tip line, the diners left cash. If a place has no tip line, ask politely how to thank the servers.
The Takeaway
The best meals do not always come with a pile of reviews. Sometimes they come with a full parking lot, a friendly server and a plate of butter chicken you did not know you needed. For a restaurant that had only been open since around Mother’s Day, two five-star reviews and the word “unicorn” make a pretty great start.
If you live near Jackson, Tennessee, you now have a spot to check out. And the next time you see a restaurant with no stars at all, remember that every well-loved place started with a first customer.
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