What makes your meal perfect?
Oh, those French. They know how to make a dining experience divine, n’est-ce-pas? There’s nothing I love more than taking my taste buds on an adventure while enjoying the ambiance of a beautiful restaurant and the company of good friends.
Navigating through unfamiliar menus at different restaurants can be confusing though. And a beautiful restaurant experience is dependent on so many different factors, says Tony Marciante, chef and owner of Visions Restaurant in Bethesda, Md.
“When you eat your meal and think you should like it because someone said you should, well that just doesn’t make sense to me,” says Chef Tony. “A good dish should make you slap yourself, like, man that was good to eat, but I think some restaurants lose touch with that.”
Becky Billingsley of The Food Syndicate says initial contact with a server sets the tone for a meal, not the menu or the first bite. “While the food quality is extremely important, I can forgive more if the service is excellent. If the service stinks, I’m much more likely to get a knot in my stomach and be physically unable to enjoy the food.”
Chef Tony says a great restaurant experience comes down to what’s important to you. “You can have a quality mashed potato, a quality peanut butter and jam sandwich, quality lobster,” he says. “A menu should be inviting and have fun and attitude - some kick - to it.”
Everyone has a different perception of what’s important, so we asked our Twitter and Facebook followers what’s important to them when they visit a restaurant. Here’s what they had to say:
"Food is important of course, but I go for the overall experience--atmosphere, service etc."
“Detailed service can make ordinary food seem extraordinary.”
“I'd say the overall experience. I'm not a big fan of food so it is more important how the experience goes.”
“Most important at a restaurant = overall experience. Service, decor, menu options and food presentation.”
“Good food = loyalty. Some of my favorite places look a little outdated or tired, but the food is consistently excellent.”
“Food then service then atmosphere. If all three are there, I'll pay for it and return. No question.”
“At the end of the day, people come back because you have good food and good service and a clean restaurant,” Chef Tony says. “That’s what really matters.”
What’s most important to you when you dine out? Ambiance, food or service? And can you forgive the lack of one if the others astound you? Email us and tell us about your most memorable dining experiences.