Choosing Dinner Destinations??

[constantlylearning]

Interested to the know the thought process that goes into
choosing dinner locations.........It is a daunting task to regularly
find unique dinner locations.

[dancingdoc2]

Originally Posted by constantlylearning

Interested to the know the thought process that goes into
choosing dinner locations.........It is a daunting task to regularly
find unique dinner locations.

Where do you live, that is, big city, medium city, town, hamlet, rural?

Here is Sacramento we have a monthly magazine that lists all sorts of places to dine.

Some cities offer a discount book for a small fee that gives you places to eat often at a discount.

Look in the Yellow Pages under restaurants and and see what interests you.

Talk to friends.

If you live outside the U.S. then there may be different approaches.

[sera300]

I think much also depends on is it yourself alone or a guest with you for dinner. To find some interesting & great places; look in Food & Wine magazines, see where you may be traveling to and choose accordingly. I always found if in a hotel, the concierge is wonderful for recommendation's for a specific taste. Much also depends if you enjoy gourmet, great "hole in the wall style gourmet", just good and quiet, or food which is more native to the area/region. Additionally if out of the US, much to be found as well & depends on your taste and agenda.

[nato762]

Most restaurants are simply a variation on a certain theme, the reason i believe that most are as follows

1) The way they are run is simply the most efficient and cost effective typically restaurants don't have large profit margin and the procedure for maximizing that profit margin were mastered along time ago, those who don't initially follow those procedures learn rather quick why everyone else does.

2) Quite simply the American public in general (No, I am not speaking to you specifically, you may truly not fit the mold, or you maybe in denial, either way I'm not talking to you specifically.) don't like to be in a position where they do not or appear to not know whats is next. Lets face it most people don't like answering questions of a non-technical/specialist nature, even fewer like asking them. The Japanese are not the only ones with the saving face mentality.

3) It is what is expected it gives you a feeling of familiarity that even if you never been there before you seem to have some knowledge of the place.


As for looking for something unique to in my opinion your best bet is to look for non-standard ethnic restaurants such as:

Brazilian
Korean
German

[Mr. Saint]

If I am trying to impress her I will do one of two things. First, I would take her to a really nice modern style restaurant. They tend to be really expensive and have small portions, but the ones I go to have absolutely amazing food. But this is not for every woman; some of them are not in to that kind of thing. Or, second, I would take her to a very good, kind of off the beaten path place, that I know of. These places tend to be a lot cheaper and can be equally as good and romantic. A lot of it depends on the woman.

P.S. Doc can you suggest any good places in or around Sacramento.

[Tommyhot]

Originally Posted by constantlylearning

Interested to the know the thought process that goes into
choosing dinner locations.........It is a daunting task to regularly
find unique dinner locations.

No, I HATE eating out. I'm not lazy. I can make my own meals. I don't see the attraction of eating out. Eating in a room full of other people eating doesn't appeal to me at all. Women don't cook anymore. What the hell is up with that?

[constantlylearning]

I am quite odd then. I really enjoy eating out with various types of food.
Doc, I was in your general area not long ago (Monterey area). Some of the
best and freshest food that I have ever eaten. Amazing all the agriculture
in that general area (up and down the coast line).

[sera300]

Originally Posted by Tommyhot

Women don't cook anymore. What the hell is up with that?

Many do! Just have to find ones who enjoy it. Often many people travel for business & are left no option but to dine out. Found some really great restaurants around the US & the World. Just need to ask the right people to guide you!

[cyclefreak]

And if you come to Australia, you don't need to tip. (Just thought I'd mention that.)

[constantlylearning]

I don't think I could leave without leaving a tip. In my world, everyone is
tipped. Wait staff, shoe shine people, cart people, beverage people, attendants
at the club, valets, etc. I can remember (vividly) being taught as a younger
person how to tip and the appropriate amounts in various situations or particular
services.