If you want better Yelp reviews for your restaurant, hope for a storm. People are way nicer with their ratings when it's raining outside.
March 27, 2026
Original Paper
Rainy Days Don't Always get me Down: How Rainy Weather Affects Customers' Dining Experience and Evaluations
SSRN · 6211379
The Takeaway
While restaurateurs usually dread bad weather, the contrast between the cold, wet outdoors and the indoor dining environment triggers a sense of 'psychological warmth.' This transition makes diners feel more cozy and satisfied, leading to more favorable evaluations than they would give on a clear, sunny day.
From the abstract
Weather conditions can significantly influence individuals' perceptions of the consumption environment, subsequently influencing their post-consumption evaluations. This research examines the effect of rainy weather during the consumption experience on restaurant customers' post-consumption evaluations. Using secondary data collected from a popular online restaurant review platform and controlled experiments, the findings suggest that customers who dine during rainy weather tend to rate their ex