Joy English · Level B1 · Reviewsjoy-english.com

A review of a place

Name:Date:

Write a balanced review of a café, museum or park: describe it, give good and bad points and make a recommendation.

The Lantern Café: small but special

Last Saturday I finally visited the Lantern Café, a tiny place in the old part of town that my friends have been talking about for months. It's open every day from eight until six.

The best thing about it is definitely the food. I had a warm vegetable pie with salad, which was absolutely delicious, and the homemade lemon cake was even better. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable.

However, the café is quite small, so it gets crowded at lunchtime and we had to wait twenty minutes for a table. It can also be rather noisy when it's full.

Overall, I'd highly recommend the Lantern Café, especially for a quiet breakfast. Just try to avoid the lunchtime rush!

Opinion and linking language

Choose the best word, phrase or sentence.

The museum is fascinating. ___, the café inside is very expensive.
- a) However
- b) Although
- c) Because
___ the park was crowded, we found a quiet place by the lake.
- a) However
- b) Although
- c) Despite
The view from the top was ___ amazing.
- a) very
- b) absolutely
- c) slightly
___, I'd recommend this gallery to anyone who loves modern art.
- a) However
- b) Although
- c) Overall
The only ___ was the long queue for tickets.
- a) benefit
- b) problem
- c) highlight
It's ___ a visit if you're in the area.
- a) worth
- b) worthy
- c) value
Which is the best title for a review?
- a) I went to a park.
- b) The Green Garden: peace in the middle of the city
- c) Review number one

Where does it go?

Read each sentence from a review of a science museum. Choose the part of the review where it belongs.

Last month I spent an afternoon at the new science museum in the city centre.
- a) Introduction
- b) Positive points
- c) Negative points
- d) Recommendation
Unfortunately, the signs are confusing and we got lost twice.
- a) Introduction
- b) Positive points
- c) Negative points
- d) Recommendation
The interactive rooms are brilliant, and children can touch almost everything.
- a) Introduction
- b) Positive points
- c) Negative points
- d) Recommendation
All in all, it's a great day out for families, but go early to avoid the crowds.
- a) Introduction
- b) Positive points
- c) Negative points
- d) Recommendation
What I liked most was the planetarium show, which was absolutely amazing.
- a) Introduction
- b) Positive points
- c) Negative points
- d) Recommendation
The only downside was the gift shop, where everything was far too expensive.
- a) Introduction
- b) Positive points
- c) Negative points
- d) Recommendation

Writing task

A local website is asking readers to review a place in their town, for example a café, a museum, a park or a sports centre. Write a review. Give it a title, say what the place is and when you went, describe the good and bad points with examples, and say who you would recommend it to.

120–180 words

Check your writing

My review has a title.
I introduced the place and said when I went.
I described at least two good points with examples.
I mentioned at least one negative point, using However or Although.
I used strong adjectives correctly (absolutely delicious ...).
I finished with a clear recommendation, starting with Overall or All in all.

Answer key

Opinion and linking language

a) HoweverHowever introduces a contrast at the start of a new sentence and is followed by a comma.
b) AlthoughAlthough joins two contrasting ideas in one sentence. Despite is followed by a noun or -ing form, not a full clause.
b) absolutelyAmazing is a strong adjective, so we use absolutely, not very.
c) OverallOverall introduces a final summary and recommendation.
b) problemThe only problem was ... introduces a negative point. A long queue is not a benefit or a highlight.
a) worthIt's worth a visit is a fixed phrase meaning the place is good enough to visit.
b) The Green Garden: peace in the middle of the cityA good title names the place and makes the reader want to read more.

Where does it go?

a) IntroductionIt says when the writer went and what the place is, so it belongs in the introduction.
c) Negative pointsUnfortunately and confusing show that this is a negative point.
b) Positive pointsBrilliant describes something good about the museum.
d) RecommendationAll in all introduces a final summary and advice for readers.
b) Positive pointsWhat I liked most introduces a positive point.
c) Negative pointsA downside is a bad point, so this sentence belongs with the negative points.

Model answer

Hillside Climbing Centre: a great way to spend a rainy day

My cousin and I tried the Hillside Climbing Centre for the first time last month. It's an indoor climbing centre near the train station, and you don't need any experience to go.

What I liked most was the variety of walls. There are easy ones for beginners and some absolutely terrifying ones for experts. The instructors were patient and explained everything clearly, so we felt safe the whole time. There's also a small café with excellent smoothies.

However, it's not cheap. A two-hour session costs quite a lot, and you have to pay extra for shoes. The changing rooms were also a bit dirty when we were there.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting activity with friends, especially on a rainy weekend.