How do you choose a restaurant to eat in?

[Madusa]

When I'm out with friends and we want to go someplace to eat, I have been out with many people who'll eat any place, and I'm like... ''urrr...''

I cant do this I'm afraid. I know it depends on a lot of factors like dietry requirements, money, etc but I get really put off by the following:

Pictures in the menu... Why do establishments do this?? Usually the pics make the food look grosser than how it might actually taste. It's so offputting!

Ropey looking staff...who look like the types who wouldnt bother washing their hands after they're done with the loo. I know this is bad, but when I worked as a waitress, I made an effort to look presentable, or at least look like I've showered that day! When I managed a restaurant, we also had to oversee the staff looked presentable everyday.

Cleanliness... of the tables, the floor, condiment bottles and of course, the toilets. Nothing worse than ordering food and then upon a trip to the bathrooms, they are all manky! Makes you wonder what the kitchen's like!

Those are my top 3's. Hows about you?

 

[cesare]

Same with you on staff and cleanliness. But my other one is whether it's busy. I'm a bit distrustful of very quiet restaurants, particularly if there are busier ones surrounding it.

 

[mrsfran]

Have they got a Michelin star? No? Then I'm not eating there.

 

[cesare]

Have they got a Michelin star? No? Then I'm not eating there.

Does the Fat Duck have a michelin star?

 

[Maurice Picarda]

Does the Fat Duck have a michelin star?

Three.

 

[cesare]

Three.

Going to stick with staff, cleanliness, and busyness

 

[mrsfran]

Does the Fat Duck have a michelin star?

Yes, several.

I'm going to L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon on Saturday. That's got 2. And they do a set lunch for £20pp. Twenty quid for a 2 Michelin star meal

 

[Santino]

Going to stick with staff, cleanliness, and busyness

McDonalds is always packed and impeccably clean.

 

[johnnymarrsbars]

Yes, several.

I'm going to L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon on Saturday. That's got 2. And they do a set lunch for £20pp. Twenty quid for a 2 Michelin star meal

michael cains in manchester do the same thing. tasting menu of 3 courses, with wine, for 20 quid. i was actually pretty full after it too!

absolutely sublime, and the wine paring was perfect.


and he's only got ONE ARM.

 

[tarannau]

And some of the tastiest restaurants in Chinatown have toilets so grim that you're best advised going into them wearing dark glasses and a nosepeg.

 

[jimadore]

Word of mouth from friends, and never go to any restaurant or curry house drunk . Never take the piss out of the waiter or waitress. A restaurant can be spottless, lovely decor and clean looking? but are the kitchens ? How many people get food poisoning a year?

 

[kyser_soze]

Square Meal/word of mouth for the reviews, TopTable to see if they've got any cheapo offers going

 

[tarannau]

I used to work with one of the reviewers for Square Meal, a friend of the founder. It was aces - I miss freebies and expense accounts.

 

[kyser_soze]

I used to work with one of the reviewers for Square Meal, a friend of the founder. It was aces - I miss freebies and expense accounts.

Snap.

 

[tarannau]

Although, to be fair, even the mags that used to treat us particularly well seem to be far more guarded with their budgets these days. Maybe I'm not missing out on that much, he said wishfully.

 

[cesare]

Yes, several.

I'm going to L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon on Saturday. That's got 2. And they do a set lunch for £20pp. Twenty quid for a 2 Michelin star meal

Isn't that on the site of West Street, that place that used to have a champagne type bar downstairs and another couple of restaurants at ground and first floor level?

 

[mrsfran]

I have no idea, I've never been before. It's just off Charing Cross road.

 

[kyser_soze]

Although, to be fair, even the mags that used to treat us particularly well seem to be far more guarded with their budgets these days. Maybe I'm not missing out on that much, he said wishfully.

I miss being able to get on the phone to someone I did business with regularly and just go somewhere nice for lunch every now and again.

 

[cesare]

This has turned into a making a reservation for a restaurant thread (as opposed to deciding where to eat when you're out thread). My criteria are completely different for that.

 

[cesare]

I have no idea, I've never been before. It's just off Charing Cross road.

It's just a few doors down from The Ivy if it's the one I'm thinking of. I haven't been there since it became L'Atelier though, I don't think.

 

[Madusa]

Same with you on staff and cleanliness. But my other one is whether it's busy. I'm a bit distrustful of very quiet restaurants, particularly if there are busier ones surrounding it.

Ahh yeah, a quiet restaurant at 7pm is a bit dodgy but not desperately important...

Have they got a Michelin star? No? Then I'm not eating there.

I've never eaten in a restaurant with a Michelin star I dont think.

And some of the tastiest restaurants in Chinatown have toilets so grim that you're best advised going into them wearing dark glasses and a nosepeg.

I have tried many a restaurant in Chinatown - they're all manky.

 

[Yelkcub]

I ate in The Lecture Room at Sketch on Friday. They have a Michelin star and the food, service and setting were virtually perfect.

The current Mrs Y tends to choose where we eat as she's fussy, pescatarian and quite easily be made ill by food if she's not careful. Luckily there are very few things I don't eat.

 

[danny la rouge]

Do they serve good espresso?
| |
Yes No
| |
Go in. Move on.​

 

[100% masahiko]

Cleanliness is the most important if I'm with a bunch of friends. The other is cuisine. I personally can't stand spending money on foods I can already cook - so pasta, steaks and pizzas are big no-nos.

If I'm by myself or with me woman, a simple vietnamese or chinese cafe in crummy Hackney or Chinatown would do nicely - and they often look like unclean to the untrained eye.

 

[Idaho]

Do they serve good espresso?
| |
Yes No
| |
Go in. Move on.​

Why don't you just dose up on your legal speed before going in?

 

[Strumpet]

McDonalds is always packed and impeccably clean.

Not in my town.

 

[Orang Utan]

If you're in foreign, do not eat at a restaurant that has photographs of the food outside. And don't eat anywhere that's a main tourist thoroughfare

 

[danny la rouge]

Why don't you just dose up on your legal speed before going in?

Ah, it's An Indication, isn't it. Like: Always Judge A Bookshop By Its Poetry Section.

If they can't be bothered getting their coffee right, it ought not to give you confidence about the rest of their menu.

 

[Idaho]

You see i don't drink coffee. So I couldn't give a monkeys if they even served the stuff.

 

[100% masahiko]

If you're in foreign, do not eat at a restaurant that has photographs of the food outside. And don't eat anywhere that's a main tourist thoroughfare

In a foreign country - I tend to find an Irish bar or a Chinese restaurant first - best to ask them about recommendations on the city and where to eat.