Why On Earth Do People Go Out For a Meal?

[Demetrius]

I'm not familiar with the situation in Germany.

Depends on what you consider well-behaved and what you consider a disturbance. In general, children are no longer discouraged from talking to and in front of adults. Children being quiet as a mouse at a table are therefore rare. Basically, if you would be disturbed by a scene were I answer my nephews myriad of why-questions in a volume comparable to adult conversion at a table, you will have a tough time in general. Screaming and shouting children, however ... would probably force the waiter to have a discreet talk with the parents.

Thing is, if children aren't constantly subjected to din (TV, shouting parents, giant groups of children pressed into small child care facilities), they tend to dislike noise themselves. I took my 7 year old niece to her first concert (of sorts) a few months ago, which she liked - until the cheering at the end, when i had to take her out because it was too loud for her.

[oddoneout]

Anyone here who 'eats out' regularly might look away now ...

Many years ago I once dined with colleagues at The Grand Hotel in Manchester and, following my meal, trooped to the toilet as one does. When I was relieving myself at a convenient urinal the foreign-accented Chef de Cuisine suddenly entered, parked himself at the one next to mine and engaged myself in some friendly chat ... worrying in itself, I thought, but I needn't have been too concerned. He then swiftly left saying it was 'hell out there' and without making the necessary and indeed mandatory hygiene precautions.

I've never been particularly comfortable 'eating out' ever since.

What's more important is whether he washes his hands when he gets back to work, as is required when a food handler leaves and then returns to the food prep location(same applies eg for deli and meat counters in supermarkets). If you think about it, however meticulous his hand washing in the gents it will be undone by the door handle on the way out. What I find more disturbing is those who don't take off their aprons before using the facilities......

[Dave2002]

What about the British greeting - shaking hands. Never know where they've been - except in some cases you do.

Or handling money - both coins and notes.

[Beresford]

What about the British greeting - shaking hands. Never know where they've been - except in some cases you do.

I hope Shaking Hands goes the way that neck ties seem to be heading - limited to bankers and politicians. Japanese bowing would be much better - although I have heard that bowing protocols can be fiendishly complex in Japan.

[Richard Barrett]

Depends on what you consider well-behaved and what you consider a disturbance

Look, there are well-behaved and badly-behaved children everywhere. They can't be held responsible for the attitudes and prejudices of their elders. In restaurants (to name only these) I've been much more often and more annoyingly disturbed by the behaviour of adults, who should supposedly be sufficiently mature to pay due consideration to their fellow human beings, than by that of children. And yet it seems to be regarded by many people as acceptable to say they object to the presence of children in restaurants, people who presumably would object to the same thing being said of women, or black people, or disabled people of whatever. Children are fully human beings too.

[french frank]

In other words it's inconsiderate parents that you're objecting to.

Of course it is! Who else? But it doesn't make the eating experience any better.

As for your experience of annoying adults, there are extremely annoying adults around, but not usually in the places where I want to eat. And in the end I would simply decide not to eat there again if there were.

Thinking about it, when I've eaten abroad there haven't been baby buggies parked by the tables and two or three very young children, who obviously can't be held responsible for their 'antisocial' behaviour.

[teamsaint]

Most people are or were children at some point too.

[vinteuil]

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... occasionally I have been able to eat in extremely grand and expensive restaurants. One of the saddest things is seeing smallish children eating there, uninterested in the fare, bored with the environment - and yet one thinks, what will constitute a "treat" for them in years to come? - If your childhood has been spent in michelin three-rosette restaurants, where do you go next?

I really do pity the children of some of our friends who have great wealth - it reinforces my sense of the good fortune of growing up as one of the 'middling sort', where each encounter with 'special things' can be an exciting experience, and where you progressively advance in appreciation.

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[Lat-Literal]

... I hope you have seen how many of us 'authentically' enjoy eating out, and will perhaps revise your earlier Pronouncement :




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I see it as a "Stop The Week" thread.

The great broadcaster Robert Robinson would never have revised.

He would have said something like "but my dear fellow, where is the evidence?"

And then mentioned Beachcomber.

Not many restaurants have been named.

[MrGongGong]

I see it as a "Stop The Week" thread.

The great broadcaster Robert Robinson would never have revised.

He would have said something like "but my dear fellow, where is the evidence?"

And then mentioned Beachcomber.

Not many restaurants have been named.

And then pronounce margarine in a particularly ridiculous way

So if you want a restaurant
many folks I know rate this place (and it's not expensive !)

http://www.diwanabph.com

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Not many restaurants have been named.

None at all in your OP, Lats. You start - name names of the restaurants that you believe are only at best "average".

[Richard Barrett]

Most people are or were children at some point too.

Quite. Others seem to have been born middle-aged.

[Lat-Literal]

And then pronounce margarine in a particularly ridiculous way

So if you want a restaurant
many folks I know rate this place (and it's not expensive !)

http://www.diwanabph.com

Perhaps he just wasn't keen on Hippolyte Mege-Mouries.

I'm guessing the one you have included anecdotally is similar to the one that used to be - probably still is - on Norbury Hight Street.

Also Indian and vegetarian - from my experience simply ok.

[BBMmk2]

Not too sure about the Indian restaurants down town, as their Council ratings never look higher than 3!! We mainly use take always and the particular one we use has the top grade of 5, and the food is always very good.

[vinteuil]

So if you want a restaurant
many folks I know rate this place (and it's not expensive !)

http://www.diwanabph.com

... the diwana bhel poori place is great. I miss the one that used to be in Westbourne Grove.

This place isn't bad -

http://www.theledbury.com/tasting-menu/

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