Enjoy “island time” – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

When vacationing in the Caribbean, remember that everything — including service in restaurants — runs on “island time.”

Life on The Islands runs at a more relaxed, laid-back pace than most Americans are accustomed to. Plan accordingly — dining at a restaurant in the Caribbean can take 20 to 40 more minutes (or more!) than you’re used to back in the United States. To deal with this, either budget more cushion into your meal times … or don’t plan anything, and just go with the flow.

Remember — your server isn’t being lazy or ignoring you — a slower pace is simply the way of life in the Caribbean. Enjoy it, Mon. You’re on vacation!

Do your homework before leaving – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

Fish tacos in San Diego, deep dish pizza in Chicago, crab cakes in Maryland: anywhere you travel, there’s likely a specialty food to go along with it.

Thanks to the Internet and sites like Yelp, researching has never been easier when it comes to finding the best food and restaurants in a particular locale. Don’t forget to check the web for local tips — and be sure to consider sourcing information on Facebook and Twitter.

Before your next trip be sure to do your homework and it will pay off when you arrive and are ready to experience the local cuisine.

One last tip: try to find the places locals prefer … and avoid restaurants who thrive on the business of tourists.

Make your reservations now for Chicago Restaurant Week

by Katie Hammel on

Ah, Chicago Restaurant Week. One of the few things that will get city residents out of their apartments when the temperature dips into the negative double-digits. From February 19 to 26, over 100 restaurants in the city and suburbs will be offering special prix fixe menus at $22 for lunch and $32 for dinner.

Known as one of the best times to try a new or normally too expensive restaurant at an affordable price, Restaurant Week is also often a time when the chefs try a few more daring dishes to spice up the usual menu. And some of the city’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants are participating. Among them are Topolobampo (owned by celeb-chef Rick Bayless), NoMi, Carnivale, and Blue 13, where the lobster pizza is to-die-for. At several of these places, it would be darn near impossible to get a three-course meal for under $60 per person, let alone a mere $32.

Most of the restaurants participating already have their menus up and are taking reservations. Many are also offering drink specials along with dinner, so you can use the money you save to enjoy a few more glasses of wine.

Last year, the city extended Restaurant Week into March, but don’t count on it happening again. You can view the full list of participating restaurants here.

Get personal with locals – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

Locals are always the best resource for local information, naturally. But an answer is only as good as the question. Don’t just ask where the best steak house is, or the best sea food place. Ask something like, “Where would you go for steak if it were your birthday?” or “Where was the most romantic dinner you ever had in this town?”

You’ll get something other than the canned answer, and you may get a really great story in the bargain.

Diners in India may face a fine for not clearing their plates

by Katie Hammel on

Ever get to a restaurant, realize that you’re starving and everything sounds delicious, proceed to order way too much food and then realize when it arrives that there is no way on Earth you can eat it all? While in addition to being wasteful, this kind of behavior can now earn you a fine in India.

According to the Independent, diners caught wasting food in Mumbai will be charged an extra 5 rupees (about 10 cents). The rising cost of food and gas prices in India was the impetus behind the idea, which was the brainchild of the Association of Hotel and Restaurant Owners in Mumbai. The city is home to 7,000 restaurants and 40% of residents eat out at least once per day, so the wasted food does add up.

While the very small fine may not be enough to deter some people from wasting food, its backers hope that it will raise awareness about the rising cost of ingredients.

I have to wonder though, will exceptions be made if you just don’t like the food? I can only imagine overhearing the complaints: “Not only was my biryani awful, but they charged me extra because I couldn’t eat it all!”