8 things you should not do when going to a classy restaurant
There’s eating out and there’s eating out. If you’re going to McDonald’s or a beach bar, you can casually shuffle in wearing your tracksuit and eat with your mouth open, but at a more upscale restaurant that’s not really the idea. We got these tips from a sommelier, a top chef and an etiquette expert. ‘Jeans really are not acceptable.’
Going to a Michelin-starred restaurant for the first time can be pretty intimidating. Whispering, rows of cutlery beside your plate—and is that little plate to the left of your plate for your bread, or your neighbour’s? Online magazine Insider asked Timothy Hollingsworth, chef at Otrium restaurant in Los Angeles, master sommelier Sur Lucero and etiquette expert Julia Esteve-Boyd for tips for Michelin novices. Make the most of their tips, and enjoy!
Going to a classy restaurant: what not to do
#1: Make a reservation the day before
Can’t manage to reserve a table? For a Michelin-starred restaurant, you need to plan your visit in good time. At De Librije, for example, you may not be able to get a table for several weeks, and Inter Scaldes in Kruiningen (Zeeland) also has a waiting list. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Reserving a table during the week is easier than at the weekend, and lunch is sometimes easier than dinner. No luck? You can always call to see whether anything can still be arranged for your wedding day, birthday or another holiday you want to celebrate with a classy meal.
#2: Leggings count as trousers
Wear something nice that you feel comfortable in, but it can certainly be a little more elegant. Jeans, for example, really aren’t acceptable, according to the etiquette expert. ‘Otherwise, check the dress code beforehand,’ she says. A small warning in advance: Crocs, leggings, flip-flops and crop tops are not a good idea—anywhere, really.
#3: Ketchup, please
The staff probably won’t bat an eyelid and will go looking for ketchup for you, but you really shouldn’t ask for ketchup or mayo with your order. Also not done: shouting, snapping your fingers or tapping your glass with your knife to get the staff’s attention. That’s not acceptable in a Michelin-starred restaurant and, to be honest, it’s a bad idea at a beach bar too.
#4: Spend half an hour browsing the wine list
You don’t have to order a wine pairing if you’re not interested, or browse the entire wine list looking for a wine you know. Just ask the sommelier for advice. Sur: ‘If you tell me you’re not a wine expert, I’ll choose something I think you’ll enjoy. And that can also be a beer—some restaurants even offer a beer pairing.’
#5: I don’t like peppers
Tell them in advance which foods you’re allergic to and what you prefer not to eat. It’s not so strange that you’re not eager to eat lamb brains or chicken liver, but if a dish arrives at your table and you only mention it then, that’s very late indeed. Vegan? Vegetarian? Be sure to say so when ordering, even if you’re having the tasting menu. It’s not much of a pleasant surprise if the kitchen has to improvise at the very last minute.
#6: I’ll have the chicken
Of course you should order whatever you feel like from the menu, but hey, you’re in a Michelin-starred restaurant now, so maybe you can experiment a little? Don’t order the chicken breast or salmon—dare to order the grilled octopus. ‘This is your chance to taste things you would never make at home,’ says chef Timothy. ‘And maybe you’ll get inspired to try something different at home too.’
#7: Guessing
Don’t know what to order? Can’t make sense of the menu? Ask the waiting staff for advice. They know the menu and can surely help you choose something you’ll be happy with. Let them pamper you!
#8: Only ordering what you’ve read about
You’ve read Tripadvisor and reviews, done your homework, and now you’re going to order: exactly those dishes you read about. Ouch, what a missed opportunity, says Timothy. ‘The menus are regularly adjusted, because most kitchens want to work with ingredients from the region and in season. If you order a famous evergreen from the restaurant, or something that has been written about extensively, you may miss the standout dish of the moment.’
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Source: Insider
