<i>Normalize for the true Yelp rating scale of 4 - 4.5 stars. Filter out anything below a 4 star rating. If a small business is unable achieve 4 stars on Yelp, then something must be really wrong.</i><p>My experience is that higher star ratings on Yelp equate mainly to presentation over taste and that higher prices tend to mean a better rating (Out of a few average Chinese food places, the higher priced one will be rated the highest).