Is the venue more important than the food?

[Thankyou4calling]

I'm off to Qugaginos in London tomorrow which is a huge "Destibation" type restaurant where I think people go as much for the atmosphere and decor as the food.

Or am I wrong?

I've also eaten at Darwins on the top floor of the Walkie Talkie and really enjoyed it although the surroundings and view far out weighed the food which was pretty pricey standard brasserie fare.

What do you prioritise when choosing a place to eat?

[Big Al.]

Quality of food and sevice, end of.

[Hoofy]

#wewantplates

Edited by Hoofy on Friday 13th November 16:50

[Dr Murdoch]

Thankyou4calling said:

I'm off to Qugaginos in London tomorrow which is a huge "Destibation" type restaurant where I think people go as much for the atmosphere and decor as the food.

Or am I wrong?

I've also eaten at Darwins on the top floor of the Walkie Talkie and really enjoyed it although the surroundings and view far out weighed the food which was pretty pricey standard brasserie fare.

What do you prioritise when choosing a place to eat?

Bit of both I think, i like to have an experience when dining, be it quality of food or the location, preferably both. I don't mind paying a premium if the views are good, or its location.

[shirt]

food. always and above all else.

i've eaten in all sorts of fancy places and haven't always been impressed by the food. the worst scenario is when you're taken to a particularly fancy restaurant by someone who hopes to impress but then the food lets them down.

eta - had a look at quaglino's menu. despite some fancy ingredients nothing particularly stands out. i think i'd go for the steak tartare [always a good indicator of quality] and the lamb cutlets.

Edited by shirt on Friday 13th November 16:51

[21TonyK]

I suspect you are asking in the wrong place. If it's just me, wife and kids we always go food first, service, then location. If with friend and family its a balance, with parents its convenience and price first, then service and food last which is always a disappointment. With friends its normally location, atmosphere, then food, service and price.

[miniman]

We ate at Michael Caines place in Exeter recently. Exceptional food, somewhat let down by average service and mediocre surroundings. I would say if you're dropping £200 on dinner for two, it shouldn't feel like you're sat in a Premier Inn.

[DJFish]

Depends,
Hand & Flowers recently was all about the food.
Cliff in Barbados many years ago, beautiful location, don't remember the food, service was overbearing.
Some of my most memorable meals have been picnics by the sea in Sicily, Moules from a roadside trailer in Brittany, rough local wine & simple peasant food eaten out of newspaper.....
But that's just me, I'm a cheap date.

[Vyse]

No, some of the best food Ive had is street food. Nothing better than eating awesome food on the side of the road.

[sc0tt]

Vyse said:

No, some of the best food Ive had is street food. Nothing better than eating awesome food on the side of the road.

Agreed

Thailand was phenomenal

[calibrax]

A st location is acceptable as long as the food is excellent.

An excellent location does not in any way make up for st food.

[don4l]

The three most memorable meals that I have eaten have been in very different restaurants.

We had Singapore noodles on top of Penang Hill that only cost £1 (including a can of Fanta). This was at a street stall. I've eaten Singapore noodles many times since, but they have never been the same.

I've eaten in the Michelen starred Marques de Risqal. That was fantastic. The food, location and service were all excellent. It was infinitely more expensive than the noodles, but it was an equally pleasureable experience.

Lastly, this July we had a meal in a Basque restaurant in Benidorm. There were six of us, and the bill came to €82(including wine). The food and service was every bit as good as we had in the Michelen starred restaurant. Unfortunately, the restaurant was in a lousy location.

I would happily eat i any of these establishme ts again. They were all fantastic in tbeir own way.

[craigjm]

calibrax said:

A st location is acceptable as long as the food is excellent.

An excellent location does not in any way make up for st food.

Agreed

[Bullett]

How was it?

Food first for me always if we are talking about a nice meal.
I'd certainly not pick a venue because of the view/location/atmosphere alone, the food would have to be excellent as well.

[Truckosaurus]

You can argue that a well known restaurant with good food but in a shoddy location (or on the street itself/or food truck/etc) is making as much of a selling point out of its circumstances as the restaurant with the million dollar view or expensive décor.

[rdjohn]

I live in a great location and my wife cooks fabulous food.

So if we are dining out, the food is all important followed by excellent service. Paying primarily for a great location seems absolutely bonkers, it should just be a bonus.

[Simon Brooks]

food-price-service-location in that order for me

[hairyben]

21TonyK said:

I suspect you are asking in the wrong place.

Well the answers will differ from the lounge or some of the more clicky sub forums.

For me it's normally all about the food but I'm no snob, Price and the company are important- "great venue"/ overpriced food (for what it is) no thanks, great venue reasonable fare at reasonable prices for a night out with people who perhaps wouldn't appreciate the foodie places I see no problem.

[David A]

Thankyou4calling said:

I'm off to Qugaginos in London tomorrow which is a huge "Destibation" type restaurant where I think people go as much for the atmosphere and decor as the food.?

Off topic but I've got an ashtray from quaglinos (shows how long ago I was there)...was from a night that involved a stripper (whose hubby was due for release imminently), a wpc, the biggest roll of cash I'd ever seen, the rest of our group getting thrown out of Titanic, a delivery miles s class with chauffeur (moonlighting) and various other stuff.

Think I had steak, the stripper paid (cash). Was a good night.

[DJFish]

David A said:

Off topic but I've got an ashtray from quaglinos (shows how long ago I was there)...was from a night that involved a stripper (whose hubby was due for release imminently), a wpc, the biggest roll of cash I'd ever seen, the rest of our group getting thrown out of Titanic, a delivery miles s class with chauffeur (moonlighting) and various other stuff.

Think I had steak, the stripper paid (cash). Was a good night.

Also, isn't it funny how the un-planned evenings are always the best fun, unless of course you planned all that, in which case I admire your imagination!