Foodies

Our family loves food.  We like to cook. We like to go out.  We like to eat.  We like to eat junk food.  We like to eat healthy food.  We like whatever tastes good.

We also travel quite a bit and have lived in or visited almost half the planet among us.  Hubby has done Asia (Korea, Japan).  We all have lived in Europe and traveled the continent while we were there.  We live in Maryland, but have visited more than half the states in the United States and have friends and family all over the country that we enjoy visiting.  I've been to Mexico.  We've all been to the Caribbean.  Everywhere we go we have to try something new.

I was a picky eater as a child.  I loved well made vegetables, but hated fruit.  I refused to eat anything 'raw' or 'steamed'.  Fried or microwaved food all the way for me!  When I married my husband, I learned rather quickly that I would be expected to try to expand my horizons.  It took moving to Germany to force me to go out of my comfort zone and I haven't been back since!

Over the years we have gone to a LOT of restaurants.  As we have gotten older, we have realized that we raised our kids to be foodies too.  We all are somewhat picky about our preferences for what makes a great restaurant.  

Taste-There is nothing more important than how tasty the food is.  More than anything, this is judging COOKING.  It has to have good flavor AND be properly prepared.  Undercooked and overcooked are unacceptable.  I give a restaurant two chances to get the cooking level correct.  I figure that sometimes people have different ideas of what is medium as opposed to medium well.  The second time I tell them exactly what I am looking for (pink with a little blood in the center is medium rare to me and that is how I want my steak, I like my pork cooked to medium well and no pink in my chicken at all).  The food should be FRESH and you get bonus points for healthy options that still have excellent flavor.

Staff-I include hostessing on this part.  The accuracy of how long I have been told I am going to wait for my table vs the actual time I wait to be seated.  How long does it take to get my drinks once I was seated?  How long for food?  Did the server become obnoxious by showing up every ten seconds asking me how it is?  Did the server ever show back up for refills?  Did I have to hear the server's life story because they are aiming for a big tip or were they simply friendly?  Was my silverware clean and if not, did the server quickly rectify the situation or did we have to wait forever?

Prices-The prices are of medium importance to us because sometimes it is nice to splurge and sometimes the atmosphere, staff, location, portions, and flavor are worth the extra expense.  If I am judging a fast food restaurant, I am going to judge it compared to other fast food restaurants both within its chain and outside its chain.  Basically, I think you should judge a restaurant against others in a similar atmosphere and price range.  If your restaurant is trying to be a high end, European style restaurant and you are pricing your food as though you are a high end, European style restaurant, then your food quality, plating, and atmosphere should reflect that.  I should not show up (with or without a Groupon) expecting a high end, European style restaurant and get paper napkins and sloppy plating that looks thrown together.  Paper napkins are for fast food, NOT for table service.  Was the level of service WORTH the price?  Was the plating WORTH the price?  Were the portions WORTH the price?  Was the entertainment WORTH the price?  Overall, it is less about cost and more about value in my opinion.

Atmosphere-This includes the ambiance, decor, plating, and entertainment.  As I mentioned in 'prices,' I judge atmosphere according to what I am getting for my money.  I don't expect 'plating' at a fast food restaurant and my staff expectation is lower as well.  While I consider this among the least important for an overall score, I still think it is necessary to get an overall idea of what a restaurant offers.  If the place is playing a radio with commercials, I will have a far different expectation for the food and prices than if effort has been put into the entertainment by hiring a pianist and cellist to play while we dine.  If the restaurant intends to be a 'party spot', I expect the ambiance to reflect that in the decor and in the entertainment.

And so it begins... Eat and enjoy!