Skip to content

35 review response examples you can copy

Updated · By the Mekomi team, who manage Google Business Profiles for local businesses every day

These are replies to Google reviews for every star rating and the most common types of local business, written by people who answer reviews for local businesses every day. Use them as a starting point, and edit each one to mention something specific from the review you are answering.

How to use these examples

  • Change the details to match the review you are answering: the dish, the job, the staff member, the problem.
  • Use the reviewer's first name if they show one on their review.
  • Keep it short. Two to four sentences reads as personal; a long paragraph reads as a statement.
  • Never copy the same reply to every review. Your customers notice, and identical replies make all of them look automated.

For the reasoning behind each reply, and what to do about fake or unfair reviews, read our guide on how to respond to Google reviews.

Replies to positive reviews

Happy customers still deserve more than "Thanks!": pick out the one thing they loved and say it back to them.

Short 5-star review

★★★★★
Great service!

Reply

Thank you so much! Great service is exactly what we aim for every day, so this made our morning. See you next time. The Bean There team

Detailed 5-star review that names a product

★★★★★
The almond croissants are the best I've had outside of Paris. Flaky, not too sweet, and still warm at 8am. The cardamom bun is a close second. I'm stopping here every Saturday now.

Reply

What a lovely review, thank you! Our bakers start the almond croissants at 4am, so hearing they hold up to Paris means a lot to them. If you haven't had the cardamom bun straight from the oven yet, ask for one from the fresh tray next Saturday. The Golden Crust team

Repeat customer

★★★★★
Been coming here for 6 years. They always find the part I need, even when the big box stores can't. Ask for help in the plumbing aisle, those guys know their stuff.

Reply

Six years! Thank you for sticking with us all this time. Tracking down the odd part the big stores don't carry is our favorite kind of challenge, and the plumbing aisle crew will be happy to hear you said so. The Corner Hardware team

Praise for a named staff member

★★★★★
Jenna at the front desk went above and beyond. My dog gets anxious in the lobby and she let us wait outside until it was our turn. Small thing, but it made a huge difference.

Reply

Jenna is going to love this, so thank you for mentioning her by name. Letting anxious pups wait outside is something she started on her own, and we've shared your review with the whole team. Give your dog a scratch from all of us. The Maple Street Grooming team

4-star review with a small complaint

★★★★★
Great gym, always clean and the trainers are friendly. Only wish there were more squat racks, there's always a wait after 5pm.

Reply

We appreciate the kind words about the trainers and how clean we keep the place. You're right about the squat racks after 5pm; it's the request we hear most. We're working on a new floor layout to fit more, and we'll post an update on our profile when it's ready. The Northside Fitness team

Customer who came on a friend's recommendation

★★★★★
A friend recommended them and now I see why. They walked me through every form and caught a deduction I had missed for two years.

Reply

Please thank your friend for sending you our way, and thank you for trusting us with your return! Finding that missed deduction was a good day for us too. We'll be here when next tax season comes around. The Patel Tax team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Replies to neutral and mixed reviews

A 3-star review usually holds both praise and a problem, so thank them for the first and own the second.

3 stars: fine but slow

★★★★★
Food was fine, nothing special. Took forever to get our check.

Reply

Thank you for the honest feedback. We're sorry the wait for your check dragged on, and we've talked with the team about watching for tables that are ready to pay. If there's anything that would make your next meal more than fine, we'd like to hear it, so give us a call or ask for the manager on your next visit. The Sunny Side Diner team

3 stars: good product, rude checkout

★★★★★
Love the plants here, healthiest I've found in town. But the guy at the register was short with me when I asked about repotting. Took the shine off.

Reply

Thank you for the kind words about our plants, and we're sorry about how you were treated at the register. Repotting questions are exactly what we want people to ask, and we've spoken with the team about it. If you'd like to tell us more, stop by and ask for the owner, who would be glad to talk it through. The Fern and Fig team

3 stars: good parts, a few problems

★★★★★
Room was clean and the location is great, but the wifi barely worked and the AC was loud all night. Fine for one night.

Reply

We're glad the room was clean and the location worked for you, and thank you for the specific feedback on the rest. We're sorry the wifi and the AC let you down, and we've asked maintenance to check that room this week. If you'd like to share anything else, you can call the front desk anytime. The Harbor View Inn team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Replies to negative reviews

Stay calm, apologize without excuses, say what you are changing and move the conversation off Google.

Slow service

★★★★★
Waited 40 minutes for two coffees. Staff seemed overwhelmed and nobody told us what was going on.

Reply

We're sorry you waited that long, and that no one kept you updated. Thank you for telling us; that's not the experience we want for anyone, and we're looking at how we staff busy mornings. If you're willing to give us another try, please ask for the manager when you come in so we can make sure it goes better. The Bean There team

Too expensive

★★★★★
$14 to clean one silk shirt?? Nobody mentioned the price until I was at the register.

Reply

We're sorry the price came as a surprise at the register, and we appreciate you saying so. You should have known the cost when you dropped the shirt off, and the counter team now quotes silk and delicates up front. If you'd like to talk it over, call the shop and ask for the manager, who is happy to go through it with you. The Pressed Dry Cleaning team

Rude staff

★★★★★
The woman at the front counter rolled her eyes when I asked to return a lamp, and I had the receipt. Made me feel like an idiot.

Reply

We're very sorry, and thank you for describing what happened. Asking to return something with your receipt is completely reasonable, and you deserved patience, not an eye roll. Our store manager has heard about this and would like to sort out the lamp with you personally, so please call the store and ask for the manager on duty. The Hearth Home Goods team

Wrong order

★★★★★
Ordered a birthday cake that said Happy 40th Dana. Picked it up and it said Dina. The party was in an hour.

Reply

We're so sorry we got Dana's name wrong, especially with the party an hour away. There's no excuse for it, and we're grateful you told us: our decorators now read every name back against the order before a cake goes in the box. We'd like to hear how the rest of the day went, so please contact us directly by calling the bakery. The Sugar Bloom Bakery team

Job done badly

★★★★★
Painters left drips on the hardwood and missed spots behind the bedroom door. I had to touch it up myself.

Reply

Drips on your floors and missed spots behind the door are not the standard we hold our crews to, and we apologize. Thank you for pointing out exactly what went wrong, and we're sorry you had to touch it up yourself. Our project lead would like to see it in person, so please give us a call to set a time. The Fresh Coat Painting team

They never showed up

★★★★★
Booked the 8 to 12 window for Tuesday. Nobody came, nobody called. I took the day off work for this.

Reply

You took a day off work and we didn't show up or call, which is a failure on our part, and we're truly sorry. Thank you for letting us know; we're tracing how that booking was missed so it doesn't happen to anyone else. When you're ready, reach us by phone and we'll find a time that works for you. The Ace Appliance Repair team

A review you can't find a record of

★★★★★
Terrible. They overcharged me and the owner yelled at me when I complained. Avoid!

Reply

We're sorry to read this, and we appreciate you raising it. We looked through our records and can't find a visit or invoice that matches what you describe, but we don't want to miss anything. Please contact us directly by calling the shop so we can look into it together. The Summit Locksmith team

A review meant for another business

★★★★★
Worst pizza I've ever had and the delivery driver was rude.

Reply

Thanks for sharing this, and we're sorry you had a bad meal. We're a bike repair shop and don't sell or deliver food, so this review may have been meant for another business. If we've got that wrong, please reach out by phone or through our website; we'd like to understand what happened. The Two Wheels Bike Shop team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Replies to reviews with no text

A star rating with no words still gets a short reply, and a low one gets an open invitation to talk.

5 stars, no text

★★★★★
(no text, rating only)

Reply

Thank you for the 5 stars! We're glad you had a good experience, and we hope to see you again soon. The Bean There team

4 stars, no text

★★★★★
(no text, rating only)

Reply

Four stars, thank you! If there's anything that would have made it a 5, we'd really like to hear it, so feel free to mention it on your next visit or give us a call. The Rivera Plumbing team

1 star, no text

★★★★★
(no text, rating only)

Reply

Thank you for the rating, and we're sorry your experience didn't live up to what you expected. We'd like to understand what went wrong, so please contact us directly; you can call the store or stop by and ask for the manager. The Corner Hardware team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Restaurants and cafes

Diners mention dishes, servers and occasions by name, so your reply should too.

Restaurant: 5 stars for a special occasion

★★★★★
The cacio e pepe was perfect, and our server Marco remembered it was our anniversary from when I booked. Best tiramisu I've had.

Reply

Happy anniversary, and thank you for celebrating with us! Marco will be thrilled you noticed, and the kitchen is happy the cacio e pepe and tiramisu hit the mark. We hope to see you both for the next one. The Nonna Rosa's team

Restaurant: hair in the food

★★★★★
Found a hair in my salad. The server took it back but didn't seem to care at all.

Reply

That's unacceptable, and we're very sorry. Finding a hair in your food should have been met with a real apology, not a shrug, so we appreciate you speaking up. We've gone over hair restraints with the kitchen and talked with our servers about how to respond when something goes wrong; our manager would like to hear from you, so please call the restaurant during opening hours. The Casa Verde team

Cafe: takeout order missing an item

★★★★★
Burgers are great, but they forgot the fries in my takeout order. Didn't notice until I got home.

Reply

Glad the burgers hit the spot, and we're sorry the fries never made it into your bag. Thanks for flagging it: we've added a final check of every takeout order against the ticket before it goes out. If anything else comes up, give us a call and we'll put it right. The Smash Shack team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Dentists and medical practices

Privacy comes first: never confirm that someone is a patient or mention any detail of their care, even in a thank-you.

Dentist: 5 stars for a calm, friendly team

★★★★★
Everyone at Brightside is so kind. I've always been nervous about the dentist, and they explained everything and never made me feel rushed.

Reply

Thank you for taking the time to write this. Helping people feel at ease and never rushed is something our whole team works hard at, so it means a lot to hear it noticed. We truly appreciate your kind words. The Brightside Dental team

Medical practice: long wait and a surprise bill

★★★★★
Waited 45 minutes past my time and the front desk couldn't tell me why. Then I got a bill I wasn't expecting.

Reply

We appreciate you raising this, and we're sorry it was frustrating. We take every comment seriously and would like to hear more. To protect everyone's privacy we don't discuss details here, so please call our office and ask for the practice manager so we can talk. The Oakridge Family Medicine team

Clinic: hard to reach by phone

★★★★★
Staff are nice but it's almost impossible to get someone on the phone to reschedule.

Reply

Thank you for the feedback, and we're sorry it's been hard to reach us by phone. That's a fair point, and we're adding coverage at the front desk during our busiest hours. In the meantime, you can also reach our office manager through our website. The Align Chiropractic team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Home services (plumbers, electricians, cleaners)

These reviews are about trust in your home, so name the job and the technician when it went well and own it when it did not.

Plumber: 5 stars for an emergency job

★★★★★
Water heater died Sunday night. Luis was here by 8am Monday, explained the options without pushing the most expensive one, and had hot water back by lunch.

Reply

Thank you! A dead water heater on a Sunday night is no fun, and we're glad Luis had your hot water back by lunch. Laying out honest options is how we like to work, and we'll pass your kind words along to him. The Rivera Plumbing team

Cleaning service: missed parts of the job

★★★★★
Paid for a deep clean before move-out. The oven wasn't touched and the baseboards were still dusty. My landlord noticed.

Reply

We're sorry the deep clean fell short, and thank you for being so specific. A deep clean should always include the oven and baseboards, and missing them right before a move-out inspection put you in a tough spot. We've gone over the checklist with that crew, and we'd like to talk it through with you, so please give us a call when it suits you. The Sparkle House Cleaning team

Electrician: good work, very late

★★★★★
Good work on the new panel, but they showed up three hours late with no call.

Reply

Thanks for the kind words about the panel work, and we're sorry we kept you waiting three hours without a call. Our dispatcher should have let you know as soon as the earlier job ran long, and that's now a firm rule. If there's more you'd like us to know, you can reach the office by phone during business hours. The Volt Electric team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Salons and spas

Clients review the result and the person who gave it, so credit your stylist or therapist by name.

Hair salon: 5 stars for a stylist

★★★★★
Brought in a photo of a balayage I'd been saving for a year and Tasha nailed it. Finally a stylist who listens!

Reply

We love this, thank you! Tasha is so happy the balayage matched the photo you'd been saving, and listening first is what she does best. We can't wait to see you for your next refresh. The Luxe Hair Studio team

Spa: session cut short

★★★★★
Booked a 60-minute massage and got 45. The therapist was nice but I paid for an hour.

Reply

Thank you for being straightforward about this, and we're sorry: you booked a full hour and should have had one. Sessions should never be cut short, and we've changed our schedule so therapists have proper time between clients. We'd like to talk about it, so please contact us directly by phone or stop by the front desk. The Serenity Day Spa team

Nail salon: manicure didn't last

★★★★★
Gel manicure started chipping after 3 days. Pretty disappointing for the price.

Reply

Gel should last two weeks or more, so we're sorry yours started chipping after three days, and we appreciate you letting us know. We've passed this on to our nail techs. Please stop by or give us a call so we can take a look. The Polished Nail Bar team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Auto repair

Most auto shop reviews come down to honesty and time, so speak to both directly.

Auto shop: 5 stars for honesty

★★★★★
Another shop quoted me $1,400 for brakes. These guys looked at it and said I only needed pads, not rotors. Honest mechanics are hard to find.

Reply

Thank you for trusting us with your brakes. Your rotors had plenty of life left, so there was no reason to replace them, and we're glad that saved you real money. Honest work is how we want to earn your business for years to come. The Miller Auto Care team

Auto shop: all day for an oil change, then an upsell

★★★★★
Brought it in for an oil change and they kept it all day. Came back with a list of $900 in 'urgent' repairs.

Reply

An oil change should never take all day, and we're sorry we kept your car without an update; thanks for calling it out. A list of repairs should never feel like pressure, and we'd be glad to walk you through what we found and what can safely wait. Just call the shop and ask for the service manager. The Precision Auto team

Auto shop: great repair, dirty waiting room

★★★★★
Car runs great now, but the waiting room was filthy. Trash everywhere and the coffee machine was broken.

Reply

Glad the car is running great, and thank you for being honest about the waiting room. You're right, and we're sorry it wasn't clean: the front desk now tidies it every couple of hours, and the coffee machine has been replaced. If there's anything else you'd like us to know, reach out to the front desk anytime. The Hillside Auto team

Need a reply for your exact review? Try the free AI review reply generator.

Frequently asked questions

Is it OK to use the same reply for every review?

No. Customers read your other replies, and a wall of identical thank-yous looks automated and makes every reply feel less sincere. Start from an example if it helps, then change it so it answers what that person actually wrote.

How long should a reply be?

Two to four sentences is enough for almost every review. Thank them, mention one specific thing they said, and for an unhappy reviewer, apologize and invite them to get in touch. Longer replies tend to sound defensive.

Should I reply to reviews with no text?

Yes. A short thank-you for a star rating takes a few seconds and shows everyone reading your profile that you pay attention. For a low rating with no text, add an invitation to tell you what went wrong.

Can I use these for Yelp or Facebook?

Yes. The wording works anywhere customers leave reviews, including Yelp, Facebook and industry sites. Just check each site's rules about what you can say in a public reply.

Be first in line when Mekomi opens.

Join the waitlist and keep 40% off any plan for as long as you stay.

I'm