How we rate
Gold Coast Rated publishes independent editorial scores out of 10. We are not a user-review aggregator. Scores are never for sale. Paying for a claimed listing or badge never changes a score.
Evidence levels
Every listing carries a confidence marker. Today all places start as Provisional research ranges — we have not claimed a visit yet.
| Level | Meaning | Badge |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional | Research only from public sources. Shown as a score range, never a single precise number. Not badge-eligible. | No |
| Rated | One paid anonymous visit scored against the category rubric. | No |
| Verified | Two or more visits on different days and times. Badge-eligible once the score is 8.0 or above. | Yes |
Scores older than 18 months revert to Provisional until we re-check.
Scale anchors
| Score | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| 9.5–10 | Among Australia's best | Almost never awarded. |
| 9.0–9.4 | Among the Coast's best | Standout by any Australian coastal standard. |
| 8.0–8.9 | Excellent | Worth going out of your way. |
| 7.0–7.9 | Very good | Reliable in its suburb. |
| 6.0–6.9 | Fine | Decent, not a destination. |
| <6 | Not listed | We simply don't publish it. |
Category criteria
Each category uses weighted criteria. Provisional listings show a ±0.5 range around a research midpoint — never a false-precise single number.
Coffee
| Criterion | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso & milk | 35% | |
| Consistency | 15% | |
| Beans & range | 15% | |
| Service & speed | 15% | |
| Space | 10% | |
| Value | 10% |
Brunch
| Criterion | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 35% | |
| Coffee | 15% | |
| Service | 15% | |
| Setting | 15% | |
| Menu range & dietary | 10% | |
| Value | 10% |
Date-night dinners
| Criterion | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 30% | |
| Atmosphere | 20% | Lighting, noise, spacing |
| Service & pacing | 15% | |
| Wine & drinks | 15% | |
| Setting / view | 10% | |
| Value for occasion | 10% |
Trust rules
- We pay for every visit when visits begin — always anonymous.
- Paying Gold Coast Rated never changes a score.
- The badge is licensed only after a Verified score of 8.0+ exists, and is removed if the score later drops below 8.
- Businesses have a right of reply via the for businesses form.
- Public corrections live on /corrections/.
- Every third-party award or press claim must show a source link and year — or we remove it.
What we don’t do
- We don’t copy Google, Yelp or TripAdvisor stars or review text.
- We don’t invent visits, quotes, opening hours or amenities we haven’t verified.
- We don’t hotlink or scrape business photos.
Think we missed something? Suggest a place or send a factual correction.