What Makes a 5-Star Carnivore Score? Our Rating System Explained

Not all restaurants are created equal for carnivore diners. Our rating system helps you find places that truly cater to meat-forward eating.

The Five Pillars

Every restaurant on Carnivore Map is rated across five categories, each scored 1-5:

1. Meat Quality (Weight: 30%)

What grade and sourcing? We look for: - USDA Prime or equivalent grading - Grass-fed, grass-finished options - Heritage and rare breeds - Dry-aging programs - Known farm/ranch sourcing

A feedlot burger joint might score 2. A butcher shop serving heritage-breed, grass-finished beef with in-house dry aging scores 5.

2. Cooking Methods (Weight: 25%)

How is the meat prepared? We value: - Animal fat cooking (tallow, lard, butter, duck fat) - Wood-fired, charcoal, or open flame - Low-and-slow smoking techniques - No seed oils in any preparation

Restaurants that cook in beef tallow over wood fire score highest. Places using vegetable oil get knocked down.

3. Nose-to-Tail Options (Weight: 15%)

Does the menu go beyond muscle meat? - Bone marrow, organ meats (liver, heart, sweetbreads) - Bone broth - House-made charcuterie and sausages - Offal specials

A place offering bone marrow appetizer and liver pate scores higher than one with just steaks and burgers.

4. Menu Depth (Weight: 15%)

How much of the menu caters to carnivore diners? - Dedicated carnivore-friendly sections - Multiple protein options (beef, pork, lamb, game, seafood) - Protein-forward sides and appetizers - Accommodating of strict carnivore requests

5. Portion Generosity (Weight: 15%)

Are the portions protein-forward? - Generous meat portions relative to price - Protein as the star, not hidden under sauces - Value for the carnivore diner

The Final Score

Scores are weighted and averaged to produce the final 1-5 Carnivore Score:

• **5 🥩🥩🥩🥩🥩** - Carnivore Paradise. Exceptional across all categories.
• **4 🥩🥩🥩🥩** - Excellent. Strong carnivore options with minor gaps.
• **3 🥩🥩🥩** - Good. Solid meat options but not specifically carnivore-focused.
• **2 🥩🥩** - Fair. Some meat options but limited for strict carnivores.
• **1 🥩** - Minimal. Basic meat options, not recommended for carnivore diners.

Why Trust Our Ratings?

Every rating is based on real visits, real menus, and real feedback from the carnivore community. We do not accept payment for higher scores. Partner restaurants get visibility benefits but their Carnivore Score is independently determined.

Our community of carnivore diners helps keep ratings accurate through reviews and feedback. If a restaurant changes their oil to seed oil or reduces portion sizes, we hear about it and adjust accordingly.

Think a restaurant's score should be different? Submit a review and tell us why.