Do you check the ratings and review before going to a new restaurant?

I usually rely on personal experience, but sometimes I try a new place based on word of mouth. Right after Covid, I tried a new restaurant that had just opened up in my area. It was a chain restaurant, mid level, called the 110 Grill. My son loves the 110 Grill near where he lives...so I thought...how bad could it be? They served me a gorgeous piece of cod...huge, really...but unfortunately it had been fried to death. The waitresses had to be ASKED to put salt and pepper on the table, and I had to ASK for silverware. Hopefully, by now they've worked out the kinks...but I won't go back.