Going to a restaurant for dinner has become a somewhat speciality in recent years so it's important to me to not be let down: I know what I want and I'm not afraid to expect or ask for it and, if I am dissatisfied with anything, then I will not let it rest with the restaurateurs. Why should I?
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.
Just putting the food to one side a moment, how much foot-fall a restaurant has is also pretty integral. No-one wants to be jam-packed into a space full of families, couples and screaming children, but then who wants to sit alone in a big empty space with every word echoing off the walls? It is difficult to describe, and sounds like I'm almost moaning, but what I'm really trying to say is that there must be balance. It can't be too much of one thing and not enough of the other it has to be all things to achieve perfection.
Another must to add to my list is service. Let's face it, no matter how good the food, poor service can ruin your dining experience before you've even lifted your knife and fork. So really, we're back to that old notion of balance: you don't want to be fussed over by several eager waiting staff, hovering and hanging on your every word ready to pounce; but then in the same respect, you don't want to be waiting twenty minutes before you are even asked whether you would like a drink!
With service comes timing and good timing is something that requires diligence and sheer care. It is both the chef's job and the waiters' to ensure that your dining experience runs smoothly, that you are given time between courses and that you are not interrupted too much. This is also true when it comes to bringing your bill. Why does this point of the night always take so long? Just hurry up and put me out of my misery already!
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.
Just putting the food to one side a moment, how much foot-fall a restaurant has is also pretty integral. No-one wants to be jam-packed into a space full of families, couples and screaming children, but then who wants to sit alone in a big empty space with every word echoing off the walls? It is difficult to describe, and sounds like I'm almost moaning, but what I'm really trying to say is that there must be balance. It can't be too much of one thing and not enough of the other it has to be all things to achieve perfection.
Another must to add to my list is service. Let's face it, no matter how good the food, poor service can ruin your dining experience before you've even lifted your knife and fork. So really, we're back to that old notion of balance: you don't want to be fussed over by several eager waiting staff, hovering and hanging on your every word ready to pounce; but then in the same respect, you don't want to be waiting twenty minutes before you are even asked whether you would like a drink!
With service comes timing and good timing is something that requires diligence and sheer care. It is both the chef's job and the waiters' to ensure that your dining experience runs smoothly, that you are given time between courses and that you are not interrupted too much. This is also true when it comes to bringing your bill. Why does this point of the night always take so long? Just hurry up and put me out of my misery already!
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 restaurants in Portman Square, 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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