DiRoNA-Distinguished Restaurants of North America : Premier Dining and Restaurant Guide

DiRōNA History and Facts

History and Facts

DiRōNA was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1990 with the goal of raising dining standards and promoting fine dining throughout the US, Canada and Mexico. DiRōNA continues to uphold its mission today by serving as the authority for recognizing and promoting excellence in dining.
In 1992, the DiRōNA Award was launched to recognize restaurants exemplifying the highest quality standards in all aspects of the dining experience.
DiRōNA’s Inspection Program is a comprehensive, objective analysis that is not influenced by any guide book or word-of-mouth review. The award is valid for a four-year period. During that period, the restaurant is re-inspected and, if it passes, the designation is renewed for another four years.
To date, there are currently only 800 restaurants that have been named as DiRōNA Distinction recipients.
A comprehensive list of DiRōNA restaurants can be found on DiRōNA’s website at www.dirona.com.

In order to qualify for a DiRōNA Distinction, a restaurant must be in business under the same ownership and concept for at least three years and pass the anonymous inspection process
The criteria restaurants are rated on are: quality of physical property, environment and décor; quality of cuisine; quality of beverages; and service. A restaurant’s menu is examined for things such as variety of items, creativity and health and nutrition-related items. The food itself is evaluated based on temperature, appearance and quality of ingredients.
To ensure integrity and independence in the inspection process, DiRōNA established a Quality Assurance Committee, which manages DiRōNA’s independently contracted inspection firm.
Restaurants are chosen for inspection based on reputation, awards history and recommendations.
The anonymous inspection process is conducted by an independent company that specializes in mystery shopping and comprehensive evaluations.