Is it the food, the ambiance, the service, or a combination of all three—or is there something more? Food writer and blogger Catherine of Food Musings poses this question in a thought-provoking post.
Catherine makes some interesting points: Taste in “good food” is subjective; people are more willing to forgive bad food than bad service; there are different versions of what people want in their dinner service. But at the end of the day, there is something more that makes us love our favorite restaurants.
The usual review touches on three topics: food, service, ambiance. But, like umami—the “secret” fifth taste (after sweet, salty, bitter and sour) that is usually described as “savory”—there is another sense that I think is always considered, though rarely stated, and that is the feeling you get from a restaurant. That feeling is not just the sum of the food, service and ambiance; it is its own score. It is also, in my opinion, the most important yardstick by which a restaurant is judged.
Seeing as I continue to adore a restaurant I ate in over a decade ago—and I don’t even remember what I ate there—I think she may be on to something.
What makes you love your favorite restaurants?
There’s a local Vietnamese restaurant that I frequent. There are over 120 items on the menu but there is a common theme to them all, FRESH.
There is something about food that has not been overly manipulated prior to serving. Sure chefs in all great restaurants use fresh ingredients, but at this place I think you could plant half the ingredients and they would actually GROW!
The entrees go for about $5 each, probably because they are so labor UN-intensive. Just throw a bunch of incredibly fresh stuff in a bowl and serve it.
Simple, easy, DELICIOUS!
I get good vibes when a restaurant makes me feel welcome and likes itself too, though not in a snobby, exclusive, you’re wearing *that* kind of way. “My” kind of place smells good, gets inventive, and uses warm colors. It’s welcoming, interesting, and people smile. It’s never too cold, the food is good value (I don’t just mean $5 good value; it can be $150 for all I care), and the dessert descriptions alone make you go bug-eyed.
Consistency.
Hospitality! Hospitality! Hospitality! The feeling that the owner & staff want you to be there and that they appreciate you and your business. I always say that the “old timers” I was fortunate to learn from had a “generosity of spirit”, a welcoming attitude that you felt even before you walked in their door. When you come for the first time, you are never made to feel that you are anything other than a regular. If you are a regular, it shows in little things like remembering your name, your favorite table, that you like extra olives with your martini.
Too many restaurants have it all backwards… they think that the owner is the center of the universe, and the Chef is a star. “Celebrities” get treated like royalty, comped for their meals and drinks, while we paying customers are barely tolerated, treated as if the restaurant is doing us a huge favor by allowing us to come in and spend our money there.