Everyone loves to eat, but not everyone loves to cook. That is basically why there are so many restaurants for people to go for those who don’t feel like cooking and also for those that simply just don’t know how to cook. There are so many different kinds of restaurants to choose from these days, from Indian, Chinese, Italian, American, Japanese cuisine and more.
It usually depends on what you are in the mood for, a lot of people are actually very adventurous in that they usually love trying different restaurants that they have never been to before. However, there are common steps that people usually take when they plan on going to a restaurant they have never been to before, and here are some of them.
Gathering Information
Most of the time when people hear about a restaurant, they are usually getting the information from someone they know who recently dined there and then recommended it to them. They could have also found it online as an advertisement or also a video on YouTube where people are actually going to different restaurants and leaving their reviews about it.
One of the most common and the most advanced ways to get enough information about a certain restaurant is by using applications like Yelp, wherein people could actually rate each restaurant and make comments about their experience. More and more people have begun doing this and it can truly influence ones decision on whether they will go to that specific place or not. You know what they say… the higher the yelp review the more customers you’ll get (*wink*).
First Impressions Last
Another relatable moment that almost everyone has, is remembering their very first time eating at a specific restaurant. Almost always, the first impression will always stay in the back of your mind and will eventually determine whether or not you want to return to said place, or recommend it to others.
The very first thing people notice is, of course, the location and the area. Whether it’s somewhere that is very busy with a lot of competition, near a shopping district, or somewhere that can be quite difficult to get to where the neighborhood doesn’t seem too inviting. The aura or the vibe that the restaurant gives to the customer on their very first visit is also very important.
Usually, it depends on the kind of restaurant it is but people normally like it when the vibe is inviting and comfortable. If it is a fine dining restaurant then it is usually expected to be elegant and over-the-top.
Most people nowadays take photos of their food before eating them
Dilemma On The Menu
This has got to be one of the most common restaurant moments for everyone. The main reason why people go to restaurants is to eat, but then again it is always a struggle when it comes time to choose what you want to eat. Unfortunately, you can’t exactly order everything on the menu all at once since firstly, it would be so expensive, and secondly, it is just not ideal since the food could get cold, the plates might not be appealing to and more.
This is now where the adventurousness comes in when picking whatever you want to eat on the menu, it could either be something that sounds familiar to you or you could try to order something different for a change. Most people try sticking to food that is familiar to them since they simply want to find out how this new restaurant would add their own twist to it.
Taste Test Anxiety
Once you have ordered, the excitement now comes in especially when you are hungry. However, that excitement could potentially now turn into anxiety since you don’t exactly know if you will be wasting your money by ordering something you shouldn’t have or seeing the food being served to other tables that makes you wish you would have gotten something different.
That anxiety will only be gone once your food arrives, most people nowadays feel the need to take a photo of their food first before they dig into it, and if it’s picture perfect ready, then you will most likely feel the excitement again. However, the regret will overpower you if you finally tasted your food and it doesn’t match your expectations.
Coming Back or Not
Last but not the least is the million dollar question whether you will come back to the restaurant or not. Some people consider many things when thinking of an answer to that question, some of them base it on the service and the restaurant itself, but most of them base it on the food. Usually, when a certain dish is not that good, people would have a bad first impression but there is always a second time around to be given to try other dishes.