How to choose a restaurant for a big group
The bigger the group, the harder the restaurant pick. Most places can’t seat a crowd on short notice, the price has to work for everyone, and the chat fills with overlapping suggestions. Start with a shortlist of places that take large parties, send a Rankd, and let everyone rank privately. Book the restaurant with the best overall ranking, with a backup ready if it can’t fit you.
- Family-style Italian
- Korean BBQ
- Dim sum
- Tapas bar
- Steakhouse with a private room
- Beer hall
Free. Edit the options, then send one link to your group.
Why ranking beats a regular poll here
- Shared plates and set menus get weighed side by side, so the group trades off price and food together.
- Anyone on a tighter budget can rank the pricey place last without saying it out loud.
- The ranked order gives you a backup if the top choice can’t seat the group.
How it works
- Add the question and 3 to 30 options
- Send one private link to the group
- Everyone ranks privately, in about a minute
- You reveal the winner
Tips
- Only add places that take reservations for your group size.
- Put a rough price per person in each option, like “Tapas bar ($$).”
- Call the winner the day it is revealed, since big tables fill up.
Questions
How many restaurants should go on the list?
Four to six. Check large-party availability before you add a place, so the group doesn’t rank somewhere that can’t seat you.
Can people see how I ranked?
No. Each person’s order stays private. Everyone sees the group’s final order and where they personally landed, never anyone else’s individual ranking.
Is it free? Does everyone need the app?
Rankd is free and runs in the browser, so there is nothing to download. Friends open the link from any group chat (iMessage, WhatsApp, Slack, email) and rank in about a minute.