How we share the table at Platefolk.

Your account

Saving places, publishing notes, or nominating a spot requires a free account. A few basics keep things orderly:

• You must be at least 16 years old. That threshold follows from EU data-protection rules, not from a club preference.
• One person gets one account. If you need separate identities (for example a public pen name plus a private list of saves), write to us and we will arrange it the right way.
• Protect your credentials. Activity under your login is treated as yours.
• Use a name you are prepared to be recognised by. Pretending to be a critic, chef, venue, or another Platefolk member leads to suspension on the first clear case.

What you post

"Content" covers whatever you add to Platefolk: tasting notes, venue submissions, images, list text, and comment replies. That material is the heart of the site, so we treat it carefully.

Community conduct

Diners, cooks, owners, writers, and travellers all read Platefolk. With that mix in mind:

• Judge the plate, not the person. Calling out a dull risotto is fair. Mocking a cook's accent is not.
• Push back with care. If another reader's take feels wrong, write your own note. Do not pile onto theirs.
• Skip naming staff unless they are publicly the chef or owner. Avoid lines like "the rude blonde waitress on Thursday."
• Do not photograph other guests. If someone is identifiable in a frame, crop them out.
• One account per discussion. Extra accounts used only to boost your own view risk a ban.

Content licence

You retain ownership of what you publish. We never assert otherwise. We do need a narrow licence so the product can function.

Moderation & strikes

A human moderator — typically Helena, Amal, or Tran — reviews each submission. When a post crosses a line, we escalate in steps. Step four has almost never been needed.

You may appeal any moderation call at [email protected]. A different moderator than the one who made the original decision reviews it. We aim to respond within three working days.

Our content & brand

Magazine pieces, guides, artwork, the logo, our type pairing, and the name "Platefolk" itself belong to Platefolk Lda.

• Short quotations (roughly up to 250 words) for review or criticism are fine when you link back.
• Do not republish full articles on another site or in a newsletter without asking first. We usually agree — we simply want a heads-up.
• Illustrations are commissioned pieces, not free stock. Email us before any reuse.
• "Platefolk" is not a generic label. Do not put it in your product name, domain, or marketing without permission.

Money matters

Reading and posting on Platefolk cost nothing. There is no paywall, tip jar, or paid membership tier. Money only moves when a restaurant opts into partnership.

• Venues that claim their page pay a modest monthly fee to update hours, answer notes, and link to a booking tool. Placement is not for sale — the fee does not improve ranking.
• Billing runs through Stripe. We see the last four card digits and the billing email; we never store the full card number.
• Refunds on partnership fees are calculated day-by-day if you cancel within 30 days. No interrogation, no retention script.
• Taxes are charged where required — 23% VAT in Portugal, the correct VAT for EU customers with a valid VAT ID, and no VAT for customers outside the EU.

For restaurant partners

After you claim a venue page, these extras sit on top of the general Terms:

• You may update practical details (hours, menu, photos) and answer notes in the owner-reply field. You may not edit or erase visitor notes.
• You must not buy, solicit, or reward reviews. Friends and regulars may post freely — without payment or direction from you.
• If a note feels unfair, reply in public or flag it for moderation. Do not reach out to the reviewer privately off the platform.
• We may suspend a claim when we receive credible, specific reports of harassment aimed at reviewers, staff, or other guests.

Disclaimers

We work hard to keep details current. Still, venues shut, menus shift, and chefs leave. Platefolk is a guide, not a live booking engine.

• Hours, prices, and dishes are shown as reported — we check them about once a quarter, but call ahead for important nights.
• Allergen and dietary facts sit with the restaurant. When it matters, confirm on the day.
• Health, safety, or hygiene statements on the site come from the reviewer or the venue. We do not inspect kitchens ourselves.
• Outbound links (booking pages, partner newsletters) lead to sites we do not operate. Their terms govern there, not ours.

Liability & limits

We commit to running Platefolk with reasonable care. We do not guarantee unbroken uptime, perfect facts on every listing, or that the site will settle your midweek dinner dilemma.

As far as the law permits:

• Our aggregate liability for all of your claims is limited to the greater of €100 or what you paid us in the preceding 12 months.
• We are not responsible for indirect loss — missed connections, spoiled celebrations, or a meal that disappointed after high hopes.
• Nothing here cuts away your mandatory consumer rights under Portuguese or EU law. Those remain in force.

Ending the agreement

You may leave Platefolk whenever you like by deleting your account (Settings → Data & privacy). We close the relationship only when:

• You breach these Terms repeatedly or severely (see §06 on strikes).
• A legal duty leaves us no choice.
• We wind down Platefolk altogether — in that case we give at least 90 days' notice and offer an export tool.

If we close your account, we will say why in writing. If you close it, we appreciate the time you spent here and you are welcome back later.

Disputes & applicable law

When something goes sideways, we prefer to sort it before lawyers enter the picture. The path is:

• Step 1 — email us. Send the issue to [email protected]. On weekdays we aim to reply within 4 working hours.
• Step 2 — if that fails, EU consumers may use the online dispute-resolution hub at ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.
• Step 3 — if it remains unresolved, Portuguese law governs these Terms, and the courts of the Comarca de Lisboa have exclusive jurisdiction.

Definitions

Terms we use often enough to define once: