Our study examines the negative impact of air pollution on consumer reviews. Using a unique dataset, we find that higher air pollution, measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI), leads to lower restaurant ratings while featuring a significant nonlinear pattern for more severe pollution (AQI > 200). Moreover, air pollution can exert both immediate and cumulative effects on consumer reviews. A 25-day average AQI increase of one standard deviation will result in a 0.011-point reduction in ratings. Sentiment analysis can also support our findings, which helps us identify consumer sentiments as a pivotal mechanism through which air pollution adversely affects consumers’ dining experience. Our paper provides the first precise estimation of air pollution’s negative impact on consumer reviews, emphasizing the importance of improving air quality to enhance consumer experiences.