Dining out is a novelty venture for the majority of us these days so its important to find a great venue that offers a quality experience. Sadly, our minds are already made up as to what makes a successful restaurant by comparison to what makes a bad restaurant, and unfortunately I have fallen victim to a number of terrible let-downs I must admit.
Of course, my main sticking point is the food itself; this simply must be up to scratch, no excuses. We're not a fussy lot all we really want is a decent size portion of honest home cooking that uses fresh ingredients and doesn't overdo it on price. Moreover, we don't expect to wait hours on end for this deliciousness and the drinks list should be a match made in heaven. You're probably thinking that these requests all sound pretty obvious, but have you seen Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares recently? I rest my case.
Food to one side, a restaurant has to be appropriately busy. I'm not saying it should be crammed so full that you can't hear yourself think, but equally there has to be a small crowd present so that you are not lonely diners sitting in eerie silence. It's difficult to describe: whilst you don't want to feel like your in a secondary school dining hall, able to hear all and sundry's conversation, there does need to be a somewhat buzz or energy about the place that makes it memorable.
And this is why we always go on about service. No matter how tasty the food is or how delicious the wine, poor service can ruin your experience before its even begun. There is nothing worse than being ignored and made to feel like you're a nuisance when in actual fact you're parting with hard earned cash. Then who wants to be bombarded all night? You know the ones who can't possibly let you finish a course without coming back to the table or asking you for the third time whether you're enjoying your food or whether they can get you anything else!
Timing is vital too. Everything must move at an enjoyable pace. You don't want to be waiting lifetimes between courses, and you also don't want to be pushed to finish quickly. Eating out should be a sociable event that you can ponder over and make into an evening.
If you want to experience some fantastic restaurants here in the UK then I would definitely recommend hitting London, a true cosmopolitan city that boasts some of the very best Michelin Star restaurants not only in Europe but in the whole world. Most notable places to visit for me are: The Restaurant (House 19) of Home House Portman Square, Yashin Sushi of Argyll Road and Bocca di Lupo of Archer Street. Classic British, Japanese and Italian - what can I say, I just love food!
Of course, my main sticking point is the food itself; this simply must be up to scratch, no excuses. We're not a fussy lot all we really want is a decent size portion of honest home cooking that uses fresh ingredients and doesn't overdo it on price. Moreover, we don't expect to wait hours on end for this deliciousness and the drinks list should be a match made in heaven. You're probably thinking that these requests all sound pretty obvious, but have you seen Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares recently? I rest my case.
Food to one side, a restaurant has to be appropriately busy. I'm not saying it should be crammed so full that you can't hear yourself think, but equally there has to be a small crowd present so that you are not lonely diners sitting in eerie silence. It's difficult to describe: whilst you don't want to feel like your in a secondary school dining hall, able to hear all and sundry's conversation, there does need to be a somewhat buzz or energy about the place that makes it memorable.
And this is why we always go on about service. No matter how tasty the food is or how delicious the wine, poor service can ruin your experience before its even begun. There is nothing worse than being ignored and made to feel like you're a nuisance when in actual fact you're parting with hard earned cash. Then who wants to be bombarded all night? You know the ones who can't possibly let you finish a course without coming back to the table or asking you for the third time whether you're enjoying your food or whether they can get you anything else!
Timing is vital too. Everything must move at an enjoyable pace. You don't want to be waiting lifetimes between courses, and you also don't want to be pushed to finish quickly. Eating out should be a sociable event that you can ponder over and make into an evening.
If you want to experience some fantastic restaurants here in the UK then I would definitely recommend hitting London, a true cosmopolitan city that boasts some of the very best Michelin Star restaurants not only in Europe but in the whole world. Most notable places to visit for me are: The Restaurant (House 19) of Home House Portman Square, Yashin Sushi of Argyll Road and Bocca di Lupo of Archer Street. Classic British, Japanese and Italian - what can I say, I just love food!
About the Author:
Along with some of the best bars in london, Home House is also a Members Only Club in London. Located in the heart of Portman Square, Home House offers a plethora of exclusive events like Fine Wine Nights for its members.
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