I try to read reviews online. Eating out, at least to me is expensive and a treat, so I try to ensure that what I order meets expectations. Another thing I try to do is order food that I either can't make at home and/or usually don't have easy access to the ingredients. No judgement, but I usually never order a grilled steak or something like fettuccine alfredo. Both are easy to make and ordering them while eating out makes no sense to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I avoid all fish dishes unless I have confidently done my homework. Also, I keep to dishes that look like they have enough fat to be satisfying and flavorful- like maybe the chicken will be dry, but I’ll order the garlic mashed potatoes which can provide consolation for a mediocre main. My favorite is just to order appealing sides, e.g.: steamed artichoke, caesar salad, calamari appetizer ordered so they come all at once and then dessert.

Ordering chicken at a restaurant? Unless there is some extenuating circumstance where this is like the best chicken anywhere *rare* I'd expect this to be crappy. I never order chicken out.

+1. And I love that the thing that will definitely please is garlic mashed potatoes, since it is 1992.

If you claim to be such a “foodie” why haven’t you read “Kitchen Confidential.” YES, the servers are pressured to push certain dishes, especially the ones that can’t be sold after that night because they are expiring! YES, the servers are pressured to push expensive items, seasonal items, whatever happened to be overbought that week. This is Restaurants 101, by the way.

If you claim to be such a “foodie,” why aren’t you preparing by reading Tom Sietama and participating in his online chats? Do your research.

Food is subjective, dummy. The favorite dish of the server might not be something you love.

Get a grip. Do some research before you arrive, don’t badger your server. Hello, read food critics and online reviews.

I go to my restaurant for the trout salad and the beet salad. If you want a recommendation on entree the seabass with spinach or bratwurst.
What do customers get after I recommend these items? Butternut squash salad and schnitzel and ocourse always the damn chicken.
They are fine dishes, but don't ask then.
Same with dessert. They always get the Napoleon and apple strudel and I would recommend the mango cheese cake (more like mousse).
OP, ask for both customer's favorite and the server's. Also, do it fast. Ask for top 3, then pick.

Surely you know what kinds of food you like? Narrow it down to two dishes and then ask the waitstaff what they would choose between the two.

The servers serve the food, they are not experts in your taste. I read reviews before I go.

Anonymous wrote:

I avoid all fish dishes unless I have confidently done my homework. Also, I keep to dishes that look like they have enough fat to be satisfying and flavorful- like maybe the chicken will be dry, but I’ll order the garlic mashed potatoes which can provide consolation for a mediocre main. My favorite is just to order appealing sides, e.g.: steamed artichoke, caesar salad, calamari appetizer ordered so they come all at once and then dessert.

Ordering chicken at a restaurant? Unless there is some extenuating circumstance where this is like the best chicken anywhere *rare* I'd expect this to be crappy. I never order chicken out.

I avoid all fish dishes unless I have confidently done my homework. Also, I keep to dishes that look like they have enough fat to be satisfying and flavorful- like maybe the chicken will be dry, but I’ll order the garlic mashed potatoes which can provide consolation for a mediocre main. My favorite is just to order appealing sides, e.g.: steamed artichoke, caesar salad, calamari appetizer ordered so they come all at once and then dessert.

I try to order dishes with ingredients local to where I am.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I usually do my research in advance and read reviews to see if there is something the restaurant is known for. Check your local newspaper, read Yelp, Eater, Thrillist, the Infatuation.

+1

Sometimes the server will make great recommendations; sometimes they have been told to push low selling items.

Really? Does that happen often?

Some do seem to recommend the pricey options.

I had to check the date of this post to make sure it wasn’t written in the last century.

Really, OP? You never heard of Yelp?

Anonymous wrote:I usually do my research in advance and read reviews to see if there is something the restaurant is known for. Check your local newspaper, read Yelp, Eater, Thrillist, the Infatuation.

+1

Sometimes the server will make great recommendations; sometimes they have been told to push low selling items.

I usually do my research in advance and read reviews to see if there is something the restaurant is known for. Check your local newspaper, read Yelp, Eater, Thrillist, the Infatuation.

When I go to a restaurant that’s new to me, I oftentimes ask the wait staff if there’s something on the menu that they would particularly recommend. Sometimes they ask if I’m interested in a particular type of food, but typically, I am flexible and would like to try whatever the restaurant does particularly well. Unfortunately, this approach oftentimes ends in disappointment. I find the recommended dish ho-hum while one of my dinner mates lands a 10. Why didn’t the wait staff recommend that dish!

How do you determine what to order at a restaurant that’s new to you? Do you have any recommendations for finding the best dishes a restaurant has to offer?