Running a restaurant, food delivery service, or food brand in Nigeria is no small feat. It takes stamina, consistency, and plenty of heart. From sourcing fresh ingredients to managing staff, staying on top of orders, and delivering great customer service, the hustle is real. But perhaps the toughest part? Standing out.

The competition is intense. Sometimes, on just one stretch of road in places like Lagos, Abuja, or even Owerri, you’ll find five restaurants serving almost the same menu: rice and stew, shawarma, grilled chicken, jollof, smoothies ; anything, you name it. Everyone is doing something similar, and customers are spoiled for choice.

And no lies told, Nigerians are passionate about food. We love it. We live for it. We gather around it. And because of that, we all believe we’re food experts. With just one bite, a customer can decide if they’re ever coming back or worse, if they’ll go online and share a negative review.

So, the real question is: how do you stand out in a crowd where everyone is trying to be heard?

Simple: Let your happy customers do the talking for you through reviews.

A satisfied customer’s words carry more weight than any advert. People trust people, especially customers who have already tasted your food. Whether it’s a first-time visitor or a regular, a genuine review is “word-of-mouth, but with a digital megaphone.” It reassures potential customers that your food is not only tasty but consistently good, and customer service is great..

Today, reviews are one of the strongest and most effective forms of marketing for food businesses. They build trust faster than a fancy flyer, a paid influencer post, or even a juicy discount. A few great reviews can convince someone scrolling on Instagram or checking Google Maps to choose you over the restaurant next door.

And the best part? You don’t need to wait months or beg customers one by one to write those reviews. With Parrot, a Nigerian-built customer review platform designed to help you collect and showcase real reviews, you can get your first 50 reviews in just 30 days, completely stress-free.

All it takes is setting up your free account, sharing your unique Parrot review link, and letting your customers speak on your behalf. From there, your reviews become your reputation and your reputation becomes your growth engine.

How to Make it Happen (50 Reviews in 30 Days)!

 

1. Why Reviews Matter for Food Businesses

Imagine this:
A hungry customer is scrolling online, trying to decide where to order jollof rice and grilled chicken.
They see two options:

• One restaurant with 40 good reviews.
• Another restaurant with zero reviews.

Guess who they’ll trust more?

Exactly.

When it comes to food, reviews tell people:

• The taste of the Food.
• The pace of the delivery.
• The customer service experience.
• The ambience and atmosphere of the restaurant.

It’s not enough to have good food. People need proof that others have tasted it, loved it, and recommend it. Reviews are that proof.

2. How to Quickly Set Up Your Business on Parrot (For Free!)

Getting started with collecting reviews doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. You can register your business on a customer review and customer intelligence platform called Parrot for easy collection and management of customer reviews. On Parrot, you can create a free account in just a few minutes:

Here’s how:

1. Visit the  Parrot website
2. Sign up for free with your business name and fill in details to better present yourself to potential customers.
3. Get your unique review link instantly.

This link is what you’ll share with your customers, so they can easily leave reviews with no stress. It’s that simple.

3. Start With Your Existing Customers

Your first reviews should come from people who already know your food.

Think about:

• Regular customers
• First-timers who just dined in
• People who ordered takeout or delivery
• Friends and family who have tasted your food

Create a simple list.Aim for at least 20 names to start with.

These are the people who already like your food — they just need a small nudge to put it into words.

4. Ask at the Right Moments

Timing makes a big difference.

The best time to ask for a review is:

• After a customer finishes a meal and/or compliments you.
• After delivering food and getting a “thank you” message.
• When a loyal customer places another order.
• After hosting a party, event, or catering service.

Catch them while their taste buds are still happy and still living in the spiciness, that’s when they’re most willing to leave a review.

5. Make It Easy for Them

Customers love good food, but they don’t want stress.

So when asking for a review:

• Share your unique Parrot link directly (via WhatsApp, SMS, Instagram DM, in-store QR code, etc.).
• Tell them it takes just 2 minutes.
• Give a small prompt like:
  “We’d love your feedback! What dish did you enjoy the most?”
  

The easier it is, the faster you’ll start collecting those reviews.

6. Use Reminders (Without Being Annoying)

Sometimes people genuinely forget — life happens. A gentle reminder a few days later can make all the difference.

Example of a friendly reminder:

“Hi Tolu! Hope you enjoyed your order from [Your Restaurant Name]. If you have a minute, could you leave us a quick review? Here’s the link again! [Insert Parrot Link] Thank you so much!”

Keep it warm, not pushy.

7. Celebrate Every Single Review

When someone leaves a review:

• Say thank you (reply to them).
• Share the review on your Instagram or WhatsApp stories (with permission).
• Highlight customer feedback in your posts:
  “Look what Olamide had to say about our spicy suya pizza!”
  When people see you value reviews, they’ll be inspired to leave theirs too.

8. Create a Small Reward System

You can spice things up (pun intended) by offering a little reward for reviews.

Examples:

• Enter customers into a monthly draw (free meal, dessert, or discount).
• Give a small voucher for their next order.
• Offer a free drink with their next dine-in meal.

Nothing over the top — just enough to show appreciation.

9. Show Progress Publicly

Let your customers feel part of your growth story.

You can post updates like:

• “We’re aiming for 50 reviews this month! Thanks for supporting me!”
• “Already at 35 reviews — just 15 to go! You guys are amazing!”

People love to be part of something growing.

10. Stay Consistent

Some days, you’ll get three reviews. Some days, none.

Don’t stop asking.
Don’t stop sharing your link.
Don’t stop celebrating progress.

Consistency is how you hit your 50-review goal — and even surpass it.

Quick Sample Plan: 30 Days to 50 Reviews

Week	Focus	Action Steps
Week 1	Warm Customers	Ask dine-in, takeout, and delivery customers personally.
Week 2	WhatsApp Status & Flyers	Post your Parrot review link on your WhatsApp status. Print a simple flyer with QR codes for customers to scan.
Week 3	Reward Push	Announce a small giveaway for reviewers. Highlight great reviews on social media.
Week 4	Final Push	Thank customers, highlight the number of reviews so far, and encourage late responders.

Bonus Tip: Guide Customers on What to Say

Not everyone knows what to write.
You can guide them gently, by giving them a prompt such as;

“Tell us what dish you tried, what you loved, and if you’d recommend us to others!”

This way, you get richer, more meaningful reviews that future customers will trust.

Every Review Is a Building Block

In the food business, taste matters. But what people say about your food matters even more. Each review you collect is a brick you’re using to build trust, loyalty, and community around your restaurant or brand.

And with Parrot, you’re not just collecting reviews — you’re collecting real voices that push your food business forward. Your customers already love your food. Now, let’s get them talking about it.
Start your free Parrot account today, grab your review link, and watch how fast the magic happens.

Your first 50 reviews are closer than you think.