Since my "10 Things Restaurants Should Do Less" list generated a lot of interest, it only seemed fair to produce a similar list of how customers could behave better in restaurants...
My latest review (of Taku) is the thousandth London restaurant that I have reviewed. There are 1,986 global restaurants reviewed on my site, some multiple times (2,616 reviews in all). Thanks to all of you for the support over the years.
For one of the restaurants I had booked in Tokyo, I was called up by the restaurant to explain that the head chef was feeling unwell and may not be there, so would I like to cancel my reservation rather than be cooked for by his sous chef? Can't see this catching on in London.
I asked for a restaurant wine list so I could study it in advance rather than frantically leafing through pages in the dining room trying to make a hurried choice. Was told the list was “confidential”. Welcome to France.
The newly anointed three Michelin star Frantzen in Stockholm has just done its April reservations. 550 seats were available and 105,000 requests were made for those. Michelin still has an effect.
I may have discovered the ideal cafe (Queens in Mayfair). Hedone pastries, Difference coffee and Krug champagne by the glass that is only marginally above its retail price.
My thoughts on The Grand Midland Dining Room in St Pancras.
This is the 2,000th restaurant to be reviewed on my website. Thanks for reading them over the years.
In response to a Twitter conversation yesterday I have put up a review of Marco's The Restaurant from April 1997 based on my old notes. A bit of pure food nostalgia.
The first British chef to be featured on Netflix's Chef's table is Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express. Her episode, a very personal one about her journey from Calcutta to law Phd to supper club host to restaurateur. is out today Worth a watch.
Welcome to the recent followers that have taken my follower count to 20,000. Still barely a twentieth the following of Larry the Downing Street cat
@Number10cat
but progress nonetheless.