Is it cost? Quality of food? Ambience?
Certainly I've been to some very expensive restaurants, featured in guides as 'the place to go' with numerous stars and recommendations, yet have had a thoroughly miserable time. On one experience, there was no doubting that the food was fantastic - fresh, seasonal and perfectly cooked. The service impeccable - always there but never felt and even though the price was steep, it was worth every penny.
So why did i have such a bad time? Because the atmosphere was so taught that anyone who laughed aloud or just didn't look part of the crowd, was scrutinised and made silently to feel very uncomfortable by the other diners.
Maybe I was wrong, it's possible that just one group laughing aloud and having a great time would have lightened the collective mood, but I doubt it. It just seemed like the sort of place where people just went to be seen and spend more time looking at other diners than chatting and enjoying the company of their own party. I haven't been back!
Ambience most certainly plays an enormous part when it comes to enjoying a dining experience. Getting the atmosphere right is an art form. To me, it's comfortable and relaxing but with a hint of formality. In the evenings, I like to dress up a bit, make an effort and I like to go places where it feels like a special occasion. Don't get me wrong, I also thoroughly enjoy going to a local pizza place with a group of friends or a quick dinner with hubby, but there's something magical about putting on a nice outfit, donning the heels and going somewhere away from the norm.
The quality of food is always important. Why go out to enjoy an evening meal at a restaurant that serves a vast selection of bought in food from chain suppliers? It's tasteless, glues your stomach and intestines together and shows a complete lack of respect for the people who go and eat it. It's surely not that hard to find local suppliers, train the chefs to make a few pies and understand how to use herbs and spices? Maybe it is which leads back to cost.
There is no doubt a market for low cost pub grub and that's fine. It serves it's purpose and gets bums on seats and allows those who don't earn much to enjoy a night out, but consider this - instead of going out once a week to a chain, why not miss a week then choose somewhere the week after that serves real, fresh food that's homemade? I challenge you to try it and let me know how you got on.
For me, I love going out to lunch. It's informal, it breaks up the working day and there's far more choice of what to eat. From sandwiches to steaks to full 3 course meals, the choice is entirely yours. There's not much better than finding a good pub on a summers day and finding a table outside with a lovely view.
I'd be very interested to hear what other people find enjoyable about dining out, so please feel free to comment.
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