Eating out is a luxury, let's face it. And when you pay for a luxury, you want to know you're getting the best, or at least feel like you're getting the best, both in terms of food and service. The below criteria are easy to spot and may help you determine whether you will be pleased with your dining experience, before you sit down.
1. Ambience: The general location of the restaurant doesn't mean much, but what the restaurant looks like inside is important. The restaurant should offer a mood. If it's an Italian bistro, it should be quiet, with soft lighting and atmosphere that makes you want to open a bottle of Chianti. If it's loud, filled with booths, and offers crayons instead of menu covers, that's okay, just know what to expect (they probably won't have that bottle of '06 Fontodi).
2. Service: This is arguably the most important aspect of a meal. In the past, I've waited for forty-five minutes to sit down, only to have to ask for a glass of water, and as soon as I'm on my last bite have a check laid down sans guest check presenter. Needless to say, I've not returned to those restaurants, despite having an excellent meal, and did not tip gratefully. Something about feeling like cattle before visiting the slaughterhouse puts a bad taste in my mouth. Moreover, if what you ordered isn't to your liking, you shouldn't be afraid to send it back. If your server gives you any problems, it's a bad sign.
3. Food: What makes good food? Well, its deliciousness, of course. But then there are more subtle questions to ask before judging a restaurant's quality: could I have made this at home? If so would it have been as tasty? Is it original? Are the ingredients varied and obscure? Was it worth the twenty six dollars? Am I still hungry? Ultimately, to want to return to a restaurant, you should feel satisfied, sated and happy, glad that you had the experience of dining where you did.
Of course there are other more minor considerations when choosing a favorite restaurant, like how attractive your server/host/ess is, where you were seated, and how easy it is to get there from your home, but usually these are minor concerns. And if you're on the fence about a place, don't be afraid to ask for menus, and hope that it comes in leather menu covers. If not, the restaurant is likely newer, and its quality is more volatile.
1. Ambience: The general location of the restaurant doesn't mean much, but what the restaurant looks like inside is important. The restaurant should offer a mood. If it's an Italian bistro, it should be quiet, with soft lighting and atmosphere that makes you want to open a bottle of Chianti. If it's loud, filled with booths, and offers crayons instead of menu covers, that's okay, just know what to expect (they probably won't have that bottle of '06 Fontodi).
2. Service: This is arguably the most important aspect of a meal. In the past, I've waited for forty-five minutes to sit down, only to have to ask for a glass of water, and as soon as I'm on my last bite have a check laid down sans guest check presenter. Needless to say, I've not returned to those restaurants, despite having an excellent meal, and did not tip gratefully. Something about feeling like cattle before visiting the slaughterhouse puts a bad taste in my mouth. Moreover, if what you ordered isn't to your liking, you shouldn't be afraid to send it back. If your server gives you any problems, it's a bad sign.
3. Food: What makes good food? Well, its deliciousness, of course. But then there are more subtle questions to ask before judging a restaurant's quality: could I have made this at home? If so would it have been as tasty? Is it original? Are the ingredients varied and obscure? Was it worth the twenty six dollars? Am I still hungry? Ultimately, to want to return to a restaurant, you should feel satisfied, sated and happy, glad that you had the experience of dining where you did.
Of course there are other more minor considerations when choosing a favorite restaurant, like how attractive your server/host/ess is, where you were seated, and how easy it is to get there from your home, but usually these are minor concerns. And if you're on the fence about a place, don't be afraid to ask for menus, and hope that it comes in leather menu covers. If not, the restaurant is likely newer, and its quality is more volatile.
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