You are going to a fancy restaurant...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
You are going to a fancy restaurant...
14
Sun, 09-10-2006 - 2:35am
How do you define "fancy?"

hunk 'o, hunk 'o burnin' heartburn!

Pages

Avatar for ntaylor908
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 09-10-2006 - 3:15pm

If it costs over $100 to eat there, your server routinely refolds your napkin while you are at the salad bar (which has such a large selection of gourmet cheeses you didn't even know existed!),

Nicki
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2003
Sun, 09-10-2006 - 4:03pm

Hmmm? I would define it as somewhere that you must make reservations and where men wear a suit and women an evening dress/gown.
They have a Maitre'D and also a Sommelier to help you with your choice of wine(s) to go with your meal.
where they serve you those palate cleansing ices between courses and there are no prices on the menu.
LOL! can we go there now? I don't feel like cooking tonight :)

Nathalie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 09-11-2006 - 12:28am

LOL, Gnat!

hunk 'o, hunk 'o burnin' heartburn!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 09-11-2006 - 6:59pm

Please excuse my 'fancy' hat. One thing I notice reading this post is that here one thing seems different. The waiter does unfold your serviette for you but if you leave the table I have never seen it refolded. I agree that most seem to have waiters not waitresses. Here they are usually a dress up place and still some have the old fashioned idea of no prices on the menus given to the female. LOL. The cost is up there but for a place to be fancy there needs to be great atmosphere, which can be as simple as the decorations in the room or some wonderful view outside the window. Increasingly here a lot of fancy restaurants have included an al fresco eating area for at least part of the year if the venue allows it. Bottom line is that fancy or not there needs to be great food, wine, service and attmosphere to be on my list. Oh and I grew up going to one 'fancy' restaurant a week with my parents and my kids have been taken to, but not as screaming babies and requiring kids menus. They got dressed up and had to behave well and they got to try some great different cuisines. They all still love it.


Suzi




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 09-11-2006 - 7:35pm

No prices on the ladies' menus?

hunk 'o, hunk 'o burnin' heartburn!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 09-12-2006 - 6:32am
That sounds like a lot of fun. Some memories are the best. Great for the kids to grow up with too. That must be a great photo.


Avatar for ntaylor908
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 09-14-2006 - 9:48pm

I'm just now getting back to this post!


I have to agree that the no kids thing is definitely a must.

Nicki
Avatar for limoncello
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2003
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 1:28am
yep, the "No Price" in the ladie's menu still exist and i've been to a couple of them since i've been here in europe. it was a practice back in the days when women are not allowed to pay for their meals (at all!) when they are out with their fellow. nowadays, what they do is - upon giving the menu, they would ask if you're a lady of the gentleman at the table. if not, and you're by yourself, they will give you a menu with a price on it. just make sense. it's a nice experience.
Avatar for limoncello
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2003
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 1:57am

fancy is when a restaurant "only" takes reservations. tie and coat are a "must" for men's attire. no jeans, T-shirt, tank top or any type of casual attire for both, men and women. if men come in with casual clothing - there is an available proper attire ready to be loaned to the men. you are greeted by a Maitre d' at the door - not by a host or hostess - after you're lead to your table, the Maitre d' then pulls the chair for you and "fluffs" your napkin on your lap when you are seated. after the lady comes back at her table (should she leave for a few minutes) - the server will, then, "fluff" the napkin on her lap as she seats. there is a Sommelier to assist one should one need in deciding which wine/champagne to go with their meal. "everything" in the menu is paid, "al a carte" (no side dishes comes free with your meal - not the ones that i've been to, anyway). although, restaurants have "pre-fixed" menu for all the courses. the server cleans all the bread crumbs on your table after every course, after your plate has been taken away. not to forget - all courses are served with different types of utensils - which will be placed at your table before each course. at some restaurants i've been to, they serve a small complimentary sorbet right before your main course - and a few give a small complimentary glass of sherry or some kind of apertif after you are seated. that's all i can think of, as this time. of course - it's only 7:53 here - my brain is still half-asleep. need some coffee!

you all have a wonderful weekend! be safe wherever you all go. but most of all... have LOTS of fun!

ciao!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 3:12am
I love fried bananas but at the moment the price is through the roof due to something happening to the crop. Small ones were about $2+ EACH. Unfortunately when I think fried bananas I think caramel sauce and my waist line is not happy with this. LOL It sounds like you had a lovely night. Wine can be very expensive and I do drink it, but I figure as long as I am there I might as well have something nice and enjoy!


Pages