OAD is a restaurant rating system compiled by an expert membership of highly literate connoisseurs who travel the world to experience culinary art. By relying on statistical accuracy, transparency, discerning palates and weighted votes of members, the Opinionated About Dining survey provides a more distinctive approach to rating restaurants. The OAD algorithm generates a ranking system that classifies restaurants based on the reviews of the membership community. Each member influences the results based on the number of restaurants he/she has visited and the current ranking of those restaurants. Everyone is entitled to a have an opinion – but OAD’s philosophy is that all opinions are not equal. Unlike other more egalitarian survey guides on the market, OAD believes that experienced opinions generate more accurate conclusions. So to intensify the accuracy of the results of its surveys, OAD emphasizes the experience of the voting panel as well as each individual voter.

History and Overview of OAD
OAD (Opinionated About Dining) was created by Steve Plotnicki in 2004. Originally functioning as a blog to document Steve’s dining exploits, Steve quickly identified widespread frustration with the reliability of dining guides on the market and recognized the need for a way to more accurately capture the movement of global dining culture. So in 2007, Steve shifted the focus of OAD from his own opinions to the results of a survey guide that would be shaped by many. The initial OAD survey was sent to just a handful of Steve’s friends who shared his passion. Almost a decade later, OAD has evolved into an internationally respected dining guide brand that incorporates the opinions of 5,000 of the world’s most passionate foodies and destination diners, regarding 16,000+ restaurants located throughout the world.