Question of the Day

[ayoub]

What makes a good restaurant?

Comments

[avis-noctis.livejournal.com]

To me, good atmosphere and good food. The atmosphere is everything that is not the food: the interior, the lighting, the attitude of the servers, the location, the structure of the building, the dishes and silverware, etc.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

What would make the atmosphere perfect for you?

[avis-noctis.livejournal.com]

Well, the location would have to be somewhere pleasant, not over-crowded with other businesses, but not isolated, in a safe, nice part of town. Easy to get to from a main street, but not directly on said (presumably busy) street.

I'd like a tastefully designed exterior and interior, without too much unused space on the outside, i.e. the architecture should be balanced. The name of the restaurant should be clear and bold but not obnoxiously stated. It's always annoying to have some place scream out its name, as in: -> !!!SUPER MEGA FOOD PLACE OH YEAH!!!!! <- :O

The interior should be spacious but not so much that it appears "cold" or uninviting. Comfortable but elegant seats are good, as are tables that vary in size (or can be easily put together for a larger party). The tables should not have centerpieces that are too large, as this just gets in the way, especially on a smaller or narrower table. Another thing that really bothers me is obnoxious music playing. I remember a restaurant that I went to once that played hard metal music. Insane. Anyway, the lighting...the lighting ought to be moderate: not as dark as a bar but much less bright than, say, a department store, because that's distracting and tiring when you're trying to eat and relax.

I like servers that are polite and formal, but not rigidly so. They should be able to make the client feel at ease. I don't like them to speak loudly, chew gum, or randomly strike up inappropriate conversations to the clients about personal things or casual affairs. That seems a little rude and weird to me, and in the past I've seen that it makes some customers uncomfortable. Also, they shouldn't try to take a person's plate away while they (the client) are in the bathroom or something if the plate still has food all over it. You'd think this would be a no-brainer, but waiters do it to me ALL the time.

As far as dishes and silverware go, comfort and appeal are important to me. Forks and knives should be easy to hold for the average person (no sharp corners or weird handles; smooth edges are pleasant) and also tastefully made to a certain degree. They don't have to be particularly expensively made items, just decently and carefully made. They should have dignity. The same goes for dishes. I also dislike eating meals that are physically small on HUGE plates, and vice versa. Who wants to have food tumbling over the edge every time they move their fork?

Annnd...wow. That was really long. o.O

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

LOL!

A great description though :)

Reminds me of a restaurant I went to in Sweden... I can't for the life of me remember the name of it, but the atmosphere was just as you described :D

[sirenity.livejournal.com]

Food - service - ambiance - location

Oh - Free liquor would help too ;)

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Free liquor? LMAO!

[cmerun12.livejournal.com]

Ditto

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:P

[the-ravyn.livejournal.com]

The bread.  It's all in the bread.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Good, fresh baked bread makes all the difference :D

[onlylisa.livejournal.com]

Me in it.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

So when can I go to a restaurant with you in it? ;)

[onlylisa.livejournal.com]

See icon.
I'll meet you there.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

That's going to take some planning... :P

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

in order

the food
the company
the atmosphere
the price :)

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

I would rather have good food at a cheap diner that pay through the nose for bad food :D

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

Indeed, ive paid a lot for bad food in the past too, never again. Actually we tend to always cook recipes in doors, very VERY rarely have frozen crap or ready meals etc because of this, when I go out and eat I generally know I can make something equal to or better than what I am eating and pay a third the cost for the ingredients. Therefore I am thinking of going out to eat “down” ie café’s etc lol.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I've just begun experimenting more with my cooking... heh... I've always enjoyed it, but I'm paying a little more attention to merging flavours...

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

I must admit I am still more of a recipe book kinda guy still, but I don’t mind that, there are billions of recipe’s to be had.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Heh, I'm a born tinkerer :D

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

ok, my suggestion then is Tuna Meatballs, superb. i consider that tinkering as meatballs are normally beef or lamb etc.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I'll have to try that! :D

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

I'll dig up the recipe tonight and post it up on my LJ.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Thanks :D

[kosta-pasta.livejournal.com]

people usually do:)
seriosly
1)service (friendly people)
2)food (good)
3)interrior

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

How's you? You've been quiet!

[donnickcottage.livejournal.com]

Really cute waitresses

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Definitely!

[uawildcatgrl.livejournal.com]

quality...atmosphere, food, and service.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Do you prefer a loud atmosphere or a quiet one?

[uawildcatgrl.livejournal.com]

I generally prefer a quiet atmosphere with maybe some soft music in the background...though my fav. Italian rest. is pretty loud...so I guess it depends.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

My favourite restaurant food wise is loud, but my favourite for atmosphere is quiet, warm, and cosy :)

[wanderingcherie.livejournal.com]

The food, plus two out of three following three elements: atmosphere, service, price.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

The food is very important, I agree :)