For many years, I did not like to eat at home. fine dining establishments. The staff is always overly formal, the menu items are unfamiliar, and the restaurants are rarely transparent about costs.
Many diners share this sentiment, says Tara Lewis, a trends expert and vice president of consumer development at Yelp.
“If you’ve never been exposed to it before, it can be scary,” she said.
There are many ways to prepare your meal and interact with your server and chef once you’re seated so you can get the most out of one of the most expensive dining experiences you’ll ever have.
Here are three tips from Lewis and chefs in New York City and Washington DC on how to make the most of your time at a fine dining restaurant.
1. Call first
If you want to familiarize yourself with a restaurant’s cuisine or prices in advance, you can check their website. But many fine dining restaurants that offer set meals for a fixed price don’t always have their menus available in advance or change, so it’s unclear what will actually be served that night.
If you find yourself in that situation and have questions, don’t hesitate to call.
“A lot of fine dining establishments may not be transparent about their prices on their websites,” Lewis says. “It’s okay to call ahead and just ask and confirm if those prices are anything to worry about.”
You’ll likely enjoy your meal more if you’re not surprised by the food or its price.
2. On time
“Don’t be more than 15 minutes late,” Alessandro Farruggio, general manager of Il Canale restaurant in Washington, DC, told Yelp.
“Our restaurant is always full, so if we can sit at another table while we wait for our reservation, [to arrive]We can get more positive sales,” he said.
But for timed meals, like Omakase dinners, it’s important to be on time, says Shin Yamaoka, chef at Omakase Room by Shin in New York City.
“It’s important to remember that other guests at the counter will be waiting for you if you arrive late, which can disrupt the experience for both the chef and the other guests,” he says.
3. If you don’t like something, keep it quiet.
Fine dining restaurants can feel stiff, making returning food more frustrating.
But Lewis says you can feel free to raise issues or dissatisfaction with your order in a respectful tone.
“Be thoughtful and give specific feedback so they understand exactly why this is inappropriate or why it’s not really appropriate,” says Lewis.
Ultimately, the chef wants you to have a good experience.
“I think most fine dining restaurants want to serve in a way that really meets the needs of the customer,” she said.
Yamaoka encourages diners to ask about dishes throughout the meal.
“I encourage customers to interact with the chef, observe carefully, ask questions, and really take the time to appreciate the work and process of Omakase that goes into creating a great experience,” he says. “Being involved in your meal allows you to learn more about the chef and the food.”
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