Archive for September, 2011
What to Expect at a Fine Dining Restaurant
Some of you may frequent fine dining restaurants and know what to expect and wear. However, there are many people who have never experienced fine dining and wonder what they should anticipate when attending. This article is meant for people who are new to the fine dining experience.
In general, fine dining restaurants are small businesses. Most fine dining restaurants are not chain restaurants; they may only have one or two locations.
Fine Dining Menu
Menus at fine dining restaurants will almost always be very different from menus at traditional or casual restaurants. Because fine dining restaurants are usually attended on special occasions, most restaurant owners strive not to disappoint in selection or quality.
Fine dining restaurants will not feature a huge menu. They will most likely offer items that customers would not normally see at a restaurant. In fact, many fine dining restaurants offer prix fixe menus. This means the restaurant offers limited menus that change on a daily or weekly basis. The advantages to these types of menus are that owners can buy seasonal items at their peak of freshness and the chef can use his creativity to design dishes.
Fine dining restaurants are full service restaurants. The food portions will most likely be smaller than at other restaurants, but it will also be much more visually appealing.
Fine dining restaurants will only offer top shelf liquors. Most will also have an array of cognacs, brandies, and other after dinner drinks. Many times, actually, a wine will be paired with a specific dish.
Fine Dining Customer Service
When you attend a fine dining restaurant, you will quickly realize that customer service is much more attentive. The staff at fine dining restaurants will be heavily trained and most likely wear formal attire.
While all fine dining restaurants are a little different, it would not be out of the ordinary for servers to escort you to the table or restroom, crumb the table between courses, replace napkins if you get up from the table, explain menu items, and serve food directly to the plate already on the table.
You will find that no detail is too small at a fine dining restaurant.
Fine Dining Atmosphere
Decorations at fine dining establishments will have higher quality materials than you would find at casual restaurants. The restaurant will most likely use fine china, glassware, and flatware. The music of the restaurant will reflect the theme and the lighting will most likely be dim.
Some fine dining establishments may require a dress code. If the restaurant specifies to wear a jacket, men should do so. Women should then choose attire that is equal in dress as the man’s jacket. Other restaurants may be more casual elegant, so women may dress in fancy, but not formal, dresses and men in suits.
General Table Manners
Now that you know what to expect at a fine dining restaurant, you may review the following list of general table manners according to All Food Business:
-Sit up fairly straight
-Keep your elbows in
-Spread your napkin on your lap when you are seated
-Large dinner napkins are half folded
-Small napkins opened full size
-At the end of the meal, leave the napkin semi-folded at the left side of the plate
-Wait until all are served before beginning to eat
-Use the silverware farthest from your plate first
-Only cut one or two small pieces of meat at a time
-Always pass to the right
-Eat in small, slow bites
-Place used silverware on the dish to which it belongs
-Replace your chair after a meal
