Finding an Italian restaurant in Salt Lake City without any previous knowledge of the area proved an interesting challenge. Being that it isn’t my current location, I had no targeted ads to work with and had no connections to receive recommendations from. I had to start my search from scratch.

I started by doing a broad search on google to view my options. Googles list of recommendations proved useful but had too many options and become a little overwhelming. I ended up on a food bloggers website called ‘female foodie’. She listed 12 of the best Italian restaurants in Salt Lake City. I used her suggestions to narrow down my list of interests and then googled the menus and ratings of the places that stood out to me most. I ended up having to decide between Per Noi Trattoria, Sicilia Mia, and Settebello’s. Each restaurant offered different perks to their advantage, influencing my decision.

Per Noi Trattoria fell 9^th on the food bloggers list and had a google rating of 4.4 which is relatively good. The place had a nice aesthetic, with reviews comparing their food to the options found in Rome. They had a broad menu and tasty looking food featured in photos online. They offered good prices but had no alcohol menu.

The next one was Sicilia Mia. It was 5^th on her list and had a 4.6 rating on google. It was also the 10^th option on trip advisors list of recommended restaurants. When ordering Carbonara they offer the experience of it being served and tossed in a giant parmesan wheel at your table. It’s a fun and interesting experience when dining out with others. They had a large menu of options to choose from with solid pricing. They also had a classy atmosphere and an alcohol selection of different wines and beers to choose from.

The last one on my list was Settebello’s. It scored 3^rd on her list of recommendations and had a google rating of 4.5. They too, had a large menu and good prices. The restaurant had a nice outside décor and a homey feel for the seating inside. They had the added perk of a gelato shop next door if we weren’t too full after dinner.

I ended up choosing Sicilia Mia as the place to go. They offered a broad menu, had good ratings and an alcohol menu. One of the things that came highly commended in people’s reviews was the service they offered. That has the ability to either make or break an experience. They were also featured in an article in The Salt Lake Tribune which speaks good things.

While researching I realized how much targeted ads and personal recommendations can play a role in the consumer decision-making process. When thinking of going out for dinner I will generally go for places that I’ve seen advertised and had bookmarked for future reference or had already heard about from others.  When picking which restaurant to go to today, personal preferences played the biggest factor in my decision. It was interesting to see and decide on a place without any external biases. I chose the restaurant offering the factors that I liked and was best suited for my needs.

People’s ultimate decision would rely on personal factors. I was looking for a place for a girl’s night out and ultimately chose a place that offered a classy and intimate atmosphere, with a variety of options for everyone, along with a drink menu. Others may be looking for a more causal environment, a kid-friendly menu, or an option for home delivery.