How do you choose a restaurant? Everybody has their reasons for selecting a favorite watering hole. It might be the food, ambiance, service, location, or even Michelin stars. Each point is a stand-alone entity. Sometimes the excellent gastronomic experience you have is built around the ambiance or the attitude of the staff serving you and not solely the food.
There are many considerations for choosing a particular restaurant. When you are not looking for simply a table to finish your meal quickly and leave and want to have a memorable fine dining experience with family, several thoughts come to the fore.
Here are the 7 best tips for choosing a restaurant.
1. Restaurant Location
Planning to have the time of your life during an evening out? Select a restaurant that is within walking distance. Driving later can be a big issue. Alternatively, select a location where you can easily get a cab. If the restaurant is in a beautiful location like a lake, seaside, a spectacular view of the mountains, and the food is excellent, spend $50 by all means on a cab. It will be worth every cent of your culinary enjoyment.
2. Ambiance
Often a restaurant may be beautiful with good food but the décor might jar your senses. Pick a restaurant where the environment is to your liking. Some of the factors that may govern your decision are – do they play music and if so how loudly, and the people that go to the restaurant. You should be comfortable and at ease with these people around you when you eat your dinner. Select a restaurant with private rooms when you plan to have a meeting and close an important deal over lunch.
3. Gives good value
When you have a group with you, the selected restaurant should give value for money. No, that does not mean that the prices should be cheap, it is just that you should be happy about paying after having a hearty meal. The taste of the food is the defining factor here.
4. Cuisine
Certain evenings you want a particular cuisine and if there is only one restaurant in your locality that offers it, there is not much choice. On other days, you want any food that titillates your senses. In such cases, the wine list is very important. Some restaurants offer overpriced bottles from you do not know where and you should not be caught in the trap. Check if the chef is also from the same country as the cuisine is from as you are likelier to get a more authentic food experience.
5. Service
Most restaurants offer excellent service no matter who you are. However, there is a catch here. If you expect good service at a restaurant that you like, make it happen. Befriend the waiters and the waitresses, treat them kindly and you are assured of great service all the time. Small things matter. When they are carrying many things, make space on the table or take things that are not easy to place on your side of the table. Be kind and great service is all yours.
6. Hygiene
Are you planning a party and want to check out the restaurant before booking a table? Have a drink first and then go use the washroom. If it is clean and well-sanitized, the chances are greater that high standards of hygiene are maintained there. This should be one of your must-verify points before selecting a restaurant.
7. Familiar restaurants
For big events, it is always wise to visit restaurants that are tried and tested. Since the staff knows you and you are familiar with the place you will be able to enjoy the evening better. You can make recommendations to others, about the food and wine as you will be acquainted with the menu and the wine list. Overall, it will be a happy environment without having to worry about anything that might mar a great dining experience.
Follow these seven tips while selecting a restaurant, regardless of whether you are dining individually or having friends and family over and you are assured of a gastronomic delight.
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