Scoring Methodology

Insights rank restaurants by scarcity signals derived from recent availability snapshots. This is a trend signal, not guaranteed real-time availability.

What We Score

`scarcity_score` (0–100): higher means fewer bookable slots across the lookahead window, especially around prime dining times.
Tier: `hard_to_book` (top), `hot` (high), `normal` (baseline). Tiers are derived from scarcity plus provider-specific vetoes and freshness rules.
Freshness: we prefer recent snapshots; older data is down-weighted.

Important Caveats

Seasonal/temporary closures can look “scarce” if a venue is closed for a period. We try to dampen these, but some edge cases remain.
Cross-listings (the same restaurant on multiple providers) can make a venue look more available or more scarce depending on which listing has inventory.
Events/experiences vs dining: some providers list non-dining inventory (events, cabanas, retail appointments). Public Insights tries to exclude obvious non-dining listings by default.

How Metro Clusters Work

Metros are generated by clustering eligible restaurants by location. A cluster only appears when it meets minimum density thresholds (distance + minimum number of venues) and only includes venues above the current scoring filters.

Feedback

If you see obvious false positives/negatives, send us the restaurant link and provider; we use these reports to tighten the vetoes and calibration.