Bit of an odd question but when you eat out...

spengos

spengos

spengos

Associate
Joined
11 Feb 2004
Posts
706
Location
UK
...do you tend to look for a restaurant first and then find something on the menu you like, or do you start by deciding what to eat first and then find a restaurant nearby that serves that particular meal?

Personally I always do the latter. I find it strange that a lot of people seem to pick a place to eat based on the venue and then just settle on something from the menu. I find I get cravings for a certain meal(no, I'm not pregnant) and then search for the place that does the best version of it.
 
Odd question! I probably do somewhere in between. I won't definitively pick somewhere until I've read the menu, but I'll look at a selection of restaurants depending on [a] where we want to be and what sort of cuisine we fancy. If I fancy a massive burger or bbq, there's no point looking at Thai restaurants :)
 
If I'm at home/work and thinking of trying somewhere new, I'll generally tend to look at reviews first before making a decision. I'd always have a rough type of cuisine in mind though before looking.
 
A bit of both really. If I am not in a mood for something specific I will just choose the nicest place / best reviews that does burger (for the other half, he always has a burger) and just pick what sounds good from the menu.
If I really want something specific like say sushi then I go to the best sushi place I can find.
 
Depends on the day, people and occasion.

Usually there is a particular food I/the party fancy. So pick appropriate restaurant.

Pick cuisine then restaurant or if there is a new place to try. Only look at the menu after picking where to go.
 
Normally go for type of food but if there's a new restaurant opening or I want to show a particular place to someone then go with that place and choose the food there.
 
Exceptionally rare I just go to a restaurant without first having researched it on-line beforehand. Whether it's a day out, weekend away or abroad on holiday. Research research research.

I'm rather ashamed to admit it, but I almost enjoy the researching bit just as much as the event!
 
I like to try new restaurants so find the restaurant first then find something on the menu that takes my fancy. There's never normally nothing I don't want!
 
I decide what I feel like eating then go to TripAdvisor and normally go to the top rated restaurant for my price range. If I am feeling really flush I go to the Michelin guide and look for their recommend restaurants there is loads that haven't got stars but are worth a trip in their own right.
 
spengos said:
...do you tend to look for a restaurant first and then find something on the menu you like, or do you start by deciding what to eat first and then find a restaurant nearby that serves that particular meal?

Personally I always do the latter. I find it strange that a lot of people seem to pick a place to eat based on the venue and then just settle on something from the menu. I find I get cravings for a certain meal(no, I'm not pregnant) and then search for the place that does the best version of it.
Click to expand...

Depends. Travelling, I will just find a place that looks decent, then order something nice on the menu.

If I'm at home, I would look at the menu online beforehand, not that I got to restaurants at home unless it's Nandos or Pizza Express :p
 
Kylevdm said:
I decide what I feel like eating then go to TripAdvisor and normally go to the top rated restaurant for my price range. If I am feeling really flush I go to the Michelin guide and look for their recommend restaurants there is loads that haven't got stars but are worth a trip in their own right.
Click to expand...
Is it just me that doesn't trust TripAdvisor for restaurants anymore? Especially in London, but you get a whole bunch of touristy trash that Bob and Sheila came to on their night out at the theatre and thought it was the best Sunday lunch since that time in the pub in 1998, rate it 5 stars and boom it's suddenly 'the best Sunday lunch in London'. Together with pap like Pizza Hut getting massive ratings it's just not trustworthy anymore. Maybe I should head to the 'first world problems' thread... :(:p
 
Scam said:
Is it just me that doesn't trust TripAdvisor for restaurants anymore? Especially in London, but you get a whole bunch of touristy trash that Bob and Sheila came to on their night out at the theatre and thought it was the best Sunday lunch since that time in the pub in 1998, rate it 5 stars and boom it's suddenly 'the best Sunday lunch in London'. Together with pap like Pizza Hut getting massive ratings it's just not trustworthy anymore. Maybe I should head to the 'first world problems' thread... :(:p
Click to expand...

It is definitely a growing epidemic! You should check out a double episode in the new series of south park which tackles the subject of Yelp reviewers, which is just a brilliant, scathing take on customer-driven feedback of the TripAdvisor ilk!

CRXoYwqUwAALQEg.jpg
 
Scam said:
Is it just me that doesn't trust TripAdvisor for restaurants anymore? Especially in London, but you get a whole bunch of touristy trash that Bob and Sheila came to on their night out at the theatre and thought it was the best Sunday lunch since that time in the pub in 1998, rate it 5 stars and boom it's suddenly 'the best Sunday lunch in London'. Together with pap like Pizza Hut getting massive ratings it's just not trustworthy anymore. Maybe I should head to the 'first world problems' thread... :(:p
Click to expand...

I read the top and bottom reviews and quickly work out if it is all BS
 
I tend to go by word of mouth. Other half is a hairdresser so gets told about everyones evenings out. If they sound good then we will give it a go.

but we tend to find a few places we like and end up going back a fair few times before trying somewhere new
 
If we're out and doing spur or the moment, it's a combination of things and factors.

Otherwise, I check my bank balance... then decide if we're checking out a new place, revisiting a good one, keeping it cheap or just going up the chippy.

If I want a particular meal, I usually do it myself at home or phone up the relevant takeaway. Only big exception is Italian, but even then I am getting better at that...
 
We'll decide on a type of cuisine then a venue that meets that. We don't look for specific dishes - what do you do if you get there and it's sold out/off the menu? :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom