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PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
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Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?)
#14498631 - 05/23/11 11:44 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I am wanting to try some fine dining, but am a little intimidated by how unapproachable high end restaurants seem.
Say i was prepared to drop a $100+/per person on some meals ...
Seeing as my girlfriend and i are fairly unkempt and not very classy in the high end dining sense at all, what-so-ever - How do we go about finding a high end meal, without disrupting the atmosphere around us, or sticking out like sore thumbs?
I guess it would be appropriate to cover up the tattoos with a long sleeved collared shirt, get some dress pants and shoes.. Which is a stretch, seeing as i am exclusively a jeans/t shirt/hat kind of guy..
What about ordering - it seems more complicated than what i am used to? Everything is very foreign. Is a tasting menu the best way to go? Or first course, entree, desert, etc? Often the pictures of these sorts of menu that you all post, seem small dainty and artsy, but not filling! - What are your thoughts?
And Drinks? Is it expected of us to order wine? I don't like wine and certainly do not want to pay through the teeth for something i'd have to force myself to enjoy.
I'd hate to go in, and look like a slob and a fool, so set my mind at ease guys..
These are some of the nicer restaurants in town that i would consider going to:
West Restaurant
Le crocodile
and there's a couple others along the same line.
Opinions are appreciated.
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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LiquidSmoke
My title's cooler than yours DBK

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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: PDU]
#14498678 - 05/23/11 11:58 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Just from my own opinion and experiences. You shouldn't really worry too much about proper etiquette at fine dining restaurants.
I mean bottom line is, those places are there for your business, like any other restaurant. They're not going to kick you out for any short pretenses, like misusing forks or whatever other stupid crap people learn in catilion's.
Just wear something decent, some kind of long pants, and just a decent shirt, collared shirt is all u'll really need.
It's something I've never paid much attention to. I've gone to numerous michelin-starred eateries completely wreaking of weed and wearing the first collared shirt I could find. My friend once came in her workclothes.
The bottom line is, you're paying damn good money for a singular meal. Order whatever the fuck you want.
I almost NEVER order drinks or wine at restaurants. Aside from the markups, which can be really agregious and absurd (For instance, many restaurants in Vegas will charge up to 6 times the trade value for any given bottles of wine or champaigne). I mean it's complete robbery.
But mostly, I just don't feel like drinking fermented grape juice every time I go out to have a nice meal.
Go in, have fun, and don't worry about feeling out of place or underclassed. Do whatever it takes to make you feel more comfortable.
You don't feel like ordering deserts? Then don't. Same with appetizers.
Sometimes I'll just go into a place and order a single plate a la carte, because it happens to be there specialty or something I've been craving.
Just be the slight bit respectful towards the dress code, and you'll be fine.
-------------------- "Shmokin' weed, Shmokin' wizz, doin' coke, drinkin' beers. Drinkin' beers beers beers, rollin' fatties, smokin' blunts. Who smokes tha blunts? We smoke the blunts" - Jay and Silent Bob strike Back
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: LiquidSmoke]
#14498828 - 05/23/11 12:29 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
LiquidSmoke said: I've gone to numerous michelin-starred eateries completely wreaking of weed and wearing the first collared shirt I could find. My friend once came in her workclothes.
I've taken several folks out still dirty from work to a few upscale establishments, jeans, t shirts, coveralls, dirt, grease and all. none ave ever seemed to care and the manners were less than impeccable thought the waitress really appreciated the generosity and attitude
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,691
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: PDU]
#14502734 - 05/24/11 02:50 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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You don't need to be upper class to act like a gentleman. Just be kind and considerate of your environment, and it doesn't matter that you're covered in tattoos and wearing jeans and a t-shirt full of holes
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PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: koraks]
#14505740 - 05/24/11 05:39 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Alright thanks, you all have set my mind at ease.
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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soochi
Chef


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Posts: 2,420
Loc: The Richest County
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: PDU]
#14516673 - 05/26/11 05:44 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I agree with Liquid's points. Who cares what people think. You are the one paying hence bringing in business.
fuck them if they want to be snobby. and yes I've gone to very very nice restaurants in jeans and a Bape tee, sure some people looked at me, but they were put in their place when I ordered the tasting menu with all the supplements and in the end pulled out my Goyard wallet to pay for the meal in cash.
enjoy your meal, just don't be loud, I hate loud diners.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 10,675
Loc: beautiful BC
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: soochi]
#14518168 - 05/26/11 10:19 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Right on.
I would totally be there to examine and enjoy the food, i wouldn't really get off on the atmosphere, although i do enjoy excellent service and the ambience of some restaurants.
White table cloths arn't my thing.
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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LiquidSmoke
My title's cooler than yours DBK

Registered: 09/04/01
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: soochi]
#14521810 - 05/27/11 03:50 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
soochi said:
enjoy your meal, just don't be loud, I hate loud diners.
Hahaha you touched on such a pet peeve of mine. I really can't stand eating in a place that's super noisy, unless it's a dimsum restaurant which is understandable.
That was the problem with alot of up and coming restaurants. They attract the trendy crowd, and hence, a shitload of noise from people who think they're in a club.
It's the kind of people who find a little bit of solemn and silence to be uncomfortable. Having to fill the air with their oral noise.
-------------------- "Shmokin' weed, Shmokin' wizz, doin' coke, drinkin' beers. Drinkin' beers beers beers, rollin' fatties, smokin' blunts. Who smokes tha blunts? We smoke the blunts" - Jay and Silent Bob strike Back
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soochi
Chef


Registered: 08/13/02
Posts: 2,420
Loc: The Richest County
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: LiquidSmoke]
#14527897 - 05/28/11 07:39 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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well both those restaurants he cited look to be very nice places that I don't expect to be noisy at all. Although I will always fore go noise if the food is really good. Like Rasika in DC.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 10,675
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: soochi]
#14528271 - 05/28/11 09:03 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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One more question: Tipping - i suppose 12-14% is still standard, + a couple percent if service is excellent?
I think a lunch at west might be in order, it seems less formal and a good way to break the ice into the world of fine dining.
I really appreciate everyone chiming in here, i likely wouldn't have had the confidence to try one of these places without some reassurance from you all.
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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geokills
∙∙∙∙☼ º¿° ☼∙∙∙∙


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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: PDU]
#14528649 - 05/28/11 10:56 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Tip whatever you want. I sincerely dislike how pervasive the idea has become that there needs to a standard % for the tip. If the service is awesome, tip well. If it's not, just a pittance. If it's terrible, don't tip at all. Generally speaking, if the bill is over $150 per person, I rarely tip over 10%. Call me crazy, but I wouldn't feel right handing out handsome amounts of additional cash to people who are already getting paid for their work.
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-------------------- ┼ ··∙ long live the shroomery ∙·· ┼ ...╬π╥ ╥π╬...
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: geokills]
#14529148 - 05/29/11 01:41 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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those people (waitron units) generally get paid $2.13/hr and the tips are what they actually work for, I could understand your reluctance if they actually made minimum wage or better and I wholeheartedly agree, tip what is appropriate for the level of service you receive, really bad service gets a 12 cent tip, leaving a penny means nothing, while the 12 cents shows thought went into the tip
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: Prisoner#1]
#14529419 - 05/29/11 04:25 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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> those people (waitron units) generally get paid $2.13/hr and the tips are what they actually work for
They are also taxed as if they were tipped, regardless of being tipped or not.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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soochi
Chef


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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: PDU]
#14529867 - 05/29/11 08:58 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Most fine dining restaurants of the caliber you'll be going too actually pay their waitstaff at least minimum wage, although I totally disagree with the whole notion of tipping and feel everyone should just be paid a decent livable wage and not have to be subjected to the whims of people who decide how much they are going to take home that night.
Tip by the degree of service of course, but just keep in mind that these people depend largely on tips for day to day survival.
and West does look to be very good and the dishes creative and worth the special splurge.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: Seuss]
#14533387 - 05/29/11 10:24 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Seuss said: > those people (waitron units) generally get paid $2.13/hr and the tips are what they actually work for
They are also taxed as if they were tipped, regardless of being tipped or not.
most places withhold based on minimum wage if the servers arent made to claim their tips, if they are, along with other deduction a typical servers pay check would be around $20, I've known a few that got checks for $0
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: soochi]
#14533404 - 05/29/11 10:29 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
soochi said: Most fine dining restaurants of the caliber you'll be going too actually pay their waitstaff at least minimum wage
a few places may but most go by the industry standard, ask your server when you're out, the tips are better in upscale establishments so they keep the positions pretty well filled. some bars actually pay nothing to the servers, they work on tips only, adult entertainment is the most known for that, servers work on tips, the dancers pay to work
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RRhoads
chemistry student




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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: Prisoner#1]
#14550677 - 06/02/11 12:33 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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There are places here in california that have beer and food pairing, these type of events are way less prissy than a french place with a huge wine menu. I'm sure you could easily find a similar event near you.
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guywiththegun
Shroom Chewer/Beer Brewer



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Re: Inexperienced eaters seek fine food (ettiquette ?) [Re: RRhoads]
#14579274 - 06/08/11 11:22 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Yeah, I was about to say, look for beer dinners. Not pretentious at all, they cost a lot less and those guys on the west coast are doing great things with beer and food. Check out Sean Paxton, the homebrew chef, he's amazing. Makes a chocolate mousse with Rogue Hazelnut Brown. Mmmmmm.
The dinners are typically 8-10 courses too, and fucking amazing from what I've heard. And the money seems to go to a good cause, usually, they do a lot of charity stuff and industry awareness stuff too.
The main advantage being, you're eating with people who are there for the beer and not the food. They don't care what fork you use, they don't care what you do with the bones in your food, and they're usually just as new to the whole idea as you are. It's a great learning experience, I wish I could go to one.
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